[plant-pilot]

Even though the Operation seems to have been doomed to failure from the very start, the same sort of plan has been tried, albeit on a smaller scale, since (Kosovo for example) with diferent outcomes. This would point to the plan not being as flawed as most would suggest.

With a little more intelligence provided or even correctly interpreted and a more 'can-do' attitude from the RAF Command, things could have been tipped in the favour of the allies.

Nobody can doubt the bravery and skill of the aircrews involved in the assault, re-supply and support of the operation, but without the ability to drop the whole of the 1st Airborne Division in one day, and the refusal of selecting DZs closer to the bridge on the south side of the river porting the reason of 'having to ensure the minimum loss of aircraft', left the whole operation in doubt from the start.

I think it's that old problem of the service provider forgeting that they are providing a service for the customer, not the other way round.