Dam Busters

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by FV623
German records credit the US bombing effort as very markedly more damaging to their war effort and industry, the bombing figures are 950k tons for the RAF and 700k tons for the US.

That's not so much because of US 'pickle barrel' bombing (it wasn't) but because our chaps couldn't actually see what they were supposed to be bombing, Master Bombers and markers notwithstanding. "Creep" was famous, never illustrated better than in Normandy, and that was DAYLIGHT. I think the 'bomber stream' concept in the night raids just made for a target-rich environment for the Luftwaffe as well.

Given Bomber Command's losses in the night raids, I wonder what might have transpired had we gone to daylight sorties with adequate defensive armaments on the bombers and fighter escort. Better results and a higher aircrew survival rate? Ah well, we won anyway.