RAF at Night, USAAF by Day. Who decided?

[Owen]

I know very little about the War in the Air and would like to know more.
I would like to know who decided the RAF was to concentrate on night ops and the USAAF do the day-shift?
I see those methods extended to other theatres not just the Forces flying out of Britain.
A simple question but something I've often wondered about but never looked for an answer before.

[Gnomey]

Nobody decided it would be that way, it was just a difference of tactics. The RAF bombed by day because they suffered too high a casualty rate on day ops (early war on some missions all the aircraft were lost). The USAAF did day bombing because they thought it was more accurate (for the precision bombing) and because they thought the bombers could protect themselves (which as we know they couldn't). When the losses of the 8th Air Force got to such a level that they were unsustainable they thought about stopping the day raids. Then came the escorts (P-38s and P-47s - and sometimes Spits) who could escort them to the German border (and back) and then finally along came the P-51 and the rest as they say is history. The USAAF continued in their day bombing leaving the RAF to bomb by night.

[plant-pilot]

The RAF tactics lended itself to night time raids. Small parties of 'pathfinders' dropping incendaries and large open formations following with the actual raids themselves. They believed that open formations using darkness as cover was the best way to raid over occupied territory.

The US on the other hand prefered to use daylight to allow their tight heavily armed formations to see the enemy coming and use inter-locking arcs of fire to provide the most difficult target for enemy fighters. Their accurate bomb sights were also most effective in daylight. These close formations and arcs of fire are difficult to coordinate in darkness to the point of being dangerous to each other.

So by accident or design, the two allied forces and their different tactics complimented each other, although the arguments to the pros and cons of each will go on for ever.

[Gage]

The RAF crews thought that that the USAAF were crazy to fly in daylight and visa-versa.

[Kitty]

I think i would rather have been on the night bombing. First i wouldn't actually see the smoke clouds left by the flak, which apparently were chuffin scary to see littering the sky, and secondly the darkness gave extra protection.
If i remember correctly, the USAAF lost a much higher percentage of bombers on day raids than the Commonwealth at night. But the American bombers were more heavily armoured and defended for daylight raids, whereas commonwealth tended to be lighter and more agile for the open formations of nighttime.
Good Q Owen, lot of thought needs to be had here.
Kitty

[Gage]

Originally Posted by Gnomey

Nobody decided it would be that way, it was just a difference of tactics. The RAF bombed by day because they suffered too high a casualty rate on day ops (early war on some missions all the aircraft were lost). The USAAF did day bombing because they thought it was more accurate (for the precision bombing) and because they thought the bombers could protect themselves (which as we know they couldn't). When the losses of the 8th Air Force got to such a level that they were unsustainable they thought about stopping the day raids. Then came the escorts (P-38s and P-47s - and sometimes Spits) who could escort them to the German border (and back) and then finally along came the P-51 and the rest as they say is history. The USAAF continued in their day bombing leaving the RAF to bomb by night.

I think that is pretty much spot on, Gnomey. I agree. Well put.

[von Poop]

The American Air Memorial at Duxford is one of the most moving War Memorials I've ever seen, It shows MIA craft plane by plane and really rams home the sacrifices made, I reccomend it to anyone interested in the Yanks' contribution to the Air War. A good starting point.
http://aam.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00h00c

[Kitty]

There's a wonderful little local memorial in St. Edward's at Leek, Staffordshire to all aircrew who died there during the war. When it was unveiled there were representatives from the RAF, USAF and the Luftwaffe present.

THE MEMORIAL BOARD IN THE PARISH CHURCH OF St. EDWARD.

The left hand column is for the USAAF
“Into thy hands O Lord”.


The centre three columns are for the RAF and Commonwealth Airforces
The dedication Epitaph

The right column is for the Luftwaffe
“In fellowship of death, we come before our Creator”.

Says it all.

[Gnomey]

There is also the (small) one at the RAF museum at Hendon.

[Gibbo]

As said above, the RAF wanted to bomb at night & the USAAF during the day. Although each was already pursuing its preferred strategy, this split was formalised at the Casablanca Conference between Churchill & Roosevelt in January 1943. Churchill went to Casablanca intending to try & persuade Roosevelt that the USAAF should join the RAF in night bombing but USAAF generals Eaker & Arnold made a presentation that convinced Churchill of the merits of round the clock bombing. From then on, it was official Allied policy that the 2 air forces should pursue different but complementary bombing strategies.