[drgondog]

1. Had the RAF and USAAF planned and coordinated attacks, IMO, the RAF could have integrated into US daylight ops, folded in the RAF Mustangs for intermediate range escort (or convert to 85 Gal tanks for the Mustang III). The RAF bombsight was excellent, the flight crews were excellent.

I suspect three issues would have to be overcome - namely 1. Major Congestion when consolidating 4,000 heavy bombers into formation take offs, assembly and organization into Task Forces all over East Anglia - or move many RAF Bomber Command concentrations south of London. 2.) Re-train in tight large formation flying to enable 'escortable' packages, 3.) Integrate radio and radar command and control between the two Air Forces so that Ground to bomber, bomber to escort fighter communications would be enabled.

Mid 1944 would prove impossible absent decision, planning and execution starting in December 1943 - and Nobody was sure daylight bombing would succeed. However, to obtain deep target escort wasn't feasible until after the Invasion, as the 8th AF plus 354th FG was Not enough to provide completely adequate long range target escort for even 8th AF BC through D-Day. However, If TAC and 9th AF sorted out their shorter range assets to free up RAF Mustang units from May 1944 forward - and converted all Mustang III's with the 85 Gallon tank - it would be an interesting possibility from say July 1944 through the end of the war.

Question - does daylight bombing in formation at 15,000 feet drive AAA losses far higher? It was bad enough at 22-26K.

The 8th BC could have learned a great deal regarding blind bombing accuracy with synergy between the two air forces in accepting and adopting each other's 'best practices'

I do believe RAF losses would have been much lower by shifting to daylight in mid 1944 and conversely, the LW twin engine night fighter assets would have been worthless opposing all daylight RAF heavy bomber attacks... it would have been an interesting dilemma for the LW but perhaps they keep the NJG force intact to oppose Mossie attacks at night.

I also believe that the Mossie should NOT be switched to daylight ops - but be focused on high value targets at night where the target acquisition was feasible and accurate.