On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 02:33:56 GMT, Guy Alcala
wrote:

[snip agreed points]

The question is, what was the typical load actually carried by Lancs? In 1943, it
was about 8,000 lb. (effective bombload was something like 7,450 lb. The difference
represents aborts and a/c shot down before bombing ).

Actually, that's valid for the Berlin raids, but shorter distance
tonnages were higher, even before 1944-45. Middlebrook gives figures
of 10,000 - 13,000 lbs bombloads for the Hamburg raids in 1943,
against approximately 5,000 lbs for the B-17s which seems relatively
constant regardless of the penetration (e.g. mentioned again for the
first Berlin raid, according to Ethell & Price). The B-17s also had a
reduction in percentage of bombload carried to target due to losses,
even if the use of air spares reduced the abort percentage.

[snip other agreed points]

Another point is the actual numbers of bombs on target; daylight raids
were preferable to both forces, when this was regarded as practicable,
even with weather and visual constraints (smokes screens & dust).

Gavin Bailey

--

"...this level of misinformation suggests some Americans may be
avoiding having an experience of cognitive dissonance."
- 'Poll shows errors in beliefs on Iraq, 9/11'
The Charlotte Observer, 20th June 2003