In WWII RAF terms, at what point did a bombing operational sortie become an op? If a bomber turned back due to engine trouble, weather callback, etc, before dropping the bombs, was it counted as an op in the tally for a tour?
What about if the bomber is on its way to the target and is shot down? Is that counted as an op on the crew’s records? Or is it not counted till after bombs are dropped on the target?
It’s just in my research I have seen op tallies stating all the targets their ops went to, and often this includes the place they were bombing when shot down. Other tallies don’t seem to include the last target. At what point did it officially get counted?
By: Dave Homewood - 29th May 2005 at 07:15
Thanks Ross. Can anyone confirm if the RAF also applied this rule?
By: Ross Smith - 29th May 2005 at 06:43
I’ll jump in with a wild guess. If the RAF was anything like the USAAF, then an op would get officially counted if the bomber entered enemy airspace, dropped bombs on the target, or if contact was made with the enemy, either fighters or flak. If a bomber aborted due to enemy damage that would count as an op. Of course the RAF may have had a different method.
By: Dave Homewood - 29th May 2005 at 06:20
41 views, and not a sausage… Doesn’t anyone know this? It’s not just me then?
“”BUMP””
(I wasted my 3000th post on this message?) :confused: 🙂
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May 28, 2005 at 6:15 am