A-36 Apache losses over Sicily in July 1943

[Graham Boak]

A sortie loss rate is independent of the size of the force. RAF Bomber Command considered 4% the margin between acceptable and not so: a rate of 1.2% does indeed seem low for ground attack units during a particularly intense operation. The numbers show that each squadron lost one aircraft per week in July. It doesn't seem excessive.

At $4 to the £1, a Mustang for just over £12000 seems reasonable enough. During the Battle of Britain, the populace were encourage to "buy a Spitfire" for savings set at £6000, but this was not based on any strict accounting, and is known to have been well below the price of the aircraft - I believe it excluded Government Furnished Equipment such as engine, guns and radios. I have seen £12000 quoted as being closer to reality.

Apache was proposed as a name for the P-51 but rejected. The A-36 was apparently called the Invader around the time of the Sicily operation, but this was not accepted either because of the forthcoming A-26. Boring I know, but they're just Mustangs, if anything.