Corky Scott wrote:

During WWII, my impression is that nearly all the escort fighters and
for sure all the bombers were over gross for every mission.

That's true, but the rationale for that was the fact that sending the bombers
out over MGW resulted in fewer missions being required to accomplish the desired
destruction. The increased accident rate from going out heavy was still cheaper
than the casualty rate due to enemy action. In the case of the fighters, going
out with extra gas increased the escort range, which reduced casualties more
than the increased losses due to accidents.

George Patterson
Why do men's hearts beat faster, knees get weak, throats become dry,
and they think irrationally when a woman wears leather clothing?
Because she smells like a new truck.