Ah, Sunray. . . . . . . . . .
•n. A radiated line or broadening stripe resembling a ray of the sun.
(p.1438 Concise Oxford Dic. 10th edn. revised. 0-19-860438-6)
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Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
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.
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Quite so. It is noted that Bomber Command was shocked and stopped operations when learning that the AVERAGE miss distance was 15 miles.
There is no doubt the US bombing was not quantum orders better but coming in late and so with a hugely improved sighting system, plus the daylight advantage, there was a useful improvement in accuracy. Perhaps more importantly it is obvious that the target selection between forces was very different. Although we could allow for some "reprisals" by the RAF under the circumstances, maybe it might have been more useful if the RAF under darkness just unloaded over the Ruhr.
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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.
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Its a good point. Arthur's mindset would have needed altering/curtailing though for the best result. It cost us dearly afterwards since the Allies basically paid for the widespread re-building of cities, ours and theirs.
R.