SZ/AEAF/1/7/1 - "Operational Factors" in relation to railway targets and expected casualties

SZ/AEAF/1/7/1

Item

"Operational Factors" in relation to railway targets and expected casualties

1944

2 leaves

Bombing, Aerial
Railways -- Bombing, Aerial

Refers to a meeting the previous day and the interpretation placed on the term "operational factors" by the representative of the Air Ministry's Directorate of Bomber Operations present. It had been suggested that the bomb lift provided for a given operation should be calculated by multiplying the tonnage actually required by 2, to allow for operational factors such as bombing errors, target identification errors and abortive sorties. The author [SZ?] challenges this figure, using data from attacks by RAF Bomber Command on rail targets in Le Mans, Trappes and Amiens to support his argument.

The concluding paragraph refers to "the unfortunate discussions which have developed over this question of casualties" [among the Frenchcivil population?].