How much of a threat did sharks really pose to pilots shot down in the Pacific Theater of WWII?

by Darkwolf085

I'm not certain this is the best place to ask this question, but I've been reading Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. In the story it talks about how pilots were often eaten by the sharks in the ocean. It also talks about how Louie and his surviving crew even had to hit sharks in the nose with their oars because they continually attempted to jump into their raft.

TRB1783

It was a pretty real threat, remarked on by both air crews and sailors who ended up in the water for one reason or another. The best known example of sharks eating floating sailors is the sad case of the USS Indianapolis, where most of the 3,000-man crew died after floating for days in the Pacific. There's no tally of how many men sharks ate, but it was numerous enough that every account of the crew's ordeal will mention it.

Searocksandtrees

hi, you may find the responses here of interest