Hard to do as real in planes that had not only rigid structure members but also tensioned wires. There is stress on the structure in excess of holding itself up and to shape even as the plane sits.

Broken parts many times don't just fly off with these planes. They hang on tied by wires and control lines, crumpled and dragging badly, waving, spinning, taking you down. Even wing fabric may not tear off cleanly at all. Snap a major part from overstress or bullet damage and what are the odds that wings on that side may crush in like a vermin trap? Yes, the tensioning did that if I had read accounts right.

I remember in Rickenbachers book about one pilot losing the LOWER wing fabric and making it back two different times. N-17 lower wing is half-size wings. I don't remember anyone losing the top wing fabric. Would you go anywhere but all the way to the crash?