" Early Return" rate and Bomber Command

In Max Hastings book " Bomber Command" it is mentioned that in autumn 1943 " Early Return" rate exceeded 25% for 76 Squadron.

Is there any kind of figures for the whole of Bomber Command on these somewhere?

 

During that period 76 squadron operated the Halifax 2 and 5 series which were not the best aircraft to go to war in. The Halifax 3 was much better.

http://www.rafweb.org/SqnMark076.htm

 

Not wishing to 'split hairs' Kai - but is this from the original hardback edition of Hastings' book, or later paperback reprints ?

The reason I ask is that Hastings got into some 'hot water' with 76 Squadron veterans when his book first came out. I make no excuses for quoting in full from the introduction to the Pan paperback edition of 1981...

' The third section of Chapter 8, headed 'Courage', has been extensively rewritten for this the second edition of the book, after it had been suggested to me that I had dealt unjustly and incorrectly with some aspects of the story and personalities of 76 Squadron in 1943. I have been able to consider material which was not available to me in writing the first edition and which has caused me to revise my view of the squadron's story. I am pleased to have been able to correct the fine record of 76 Squadron in this period and to acknowledge the role played by its Commanding Officer'. ( Hastings, 'Bomber Command', Pan edition 1981, p11 ).

 

It is a later paperback version ( 1999 ) but interestingly enough no excuses for the 76 squadron in the foreword, and the signing by Max for the foreword is from 1979 with no additions. Could it be the first version printed
( somehow?? ) in -99?? Sounds weird but I cannot find any of the text on p 11 you mention or elsewhere in the foreword....Anyway, what you say Martin definitely solves the problem in my view.

 

That's a little bit naughty, isn't it ? Sounds as if the remarks were retracted, but then it seems that years later a publisher has simply reprinted the first edition without including the amendments ; by which time there probably weren't many 76 Squadron aircrew left around to complain......

 

Yes,

very naughty indeed. Actually I never thought this could happen, maybe another "brick from the wall" opening my eyes to see that the newest publications do not always have all the errors fixed as they should be....

 

Do not have figure for B.C. as a whole, but for 156Squadron:

Year/Sent/Returned Early/Percent

1942 / 784 / 57 / 7.27%

1943 / 1458 / 37 / 2.54%

1944 / 1937 / 18 / 0.9%

1945 / 612 / 0 / 0%

1942 were using Wellingtons.

Regards

Robin Riley www.156Squadron.com

 

Thanx alot Robin!!