Did audiences think C3PO was killed?

I remember watching this in cinema in the early 80s for the first time. And I can say that I thought in general things were going south. It all culminated, of course, with Luke's hand having been severed. But even before that, the sense of superiority of the Empire, visible on Hoth, the malfunctioning Millenium Falcon, Luke being stranded on that swamp planet, I remember feeling "how are they going to get out of this one?" So, yeah, when Threepio got shot to pieces, it disturbed me.

I didn't see the original in the theater, not even born yet, but when I read the Empire Strikes Back storybook years later when I saw Chewie gathering his parts together I knew he'd be okay.

If only.

Yes.

No he’s a robot. They blew up R2D2 in Star Wars and he was out back together.