15th Air Force terminology

[Russell]

Hi all,

Can someone explain what the difference was between "returning early" from a mission and being a "prior return"? The Int Ops summaries use both terms, and both can occur on the one mission. e.g. On 24th April 1944 the 31st FG Mustangs had 3 "return early" and 10 P-51s as "prior returns". "Returning early" is fairly self-evident, turning back before reaching the target and not credited with a sortie. But it is unclear to me what differentiates this from a "prior return"?

Thanks in advance.


Russell