Understanding the US Decision to Modify the '25 Missions' Rule
Exploring the Reason Behind the Recent Alteration of the 25 Mission Rule in Masters of the Air
In episode 7 of Masters of the Air, a new development is revealed regarding the number of missions required for the men of the 100th Bomb Group to go home. Initially set at 25 missions, it is now increased to 30 missions, much to the disappointment and sense of betrayal felt by the airmen. Despite their objections, the officers of the 100th acknowledge that they are unable to change this new rule. While Lt. Col. Robert Rosenthal and his crew are granted leave after completing 25 missions, the rest of the 100th are now obligated to adhere to the revised 30-mission requirement.
Masters Of The Air Suggests 25 Missions Were Increased Due To So Many Casualties
The effects of the 30-mission rule are significant in Masters of the Air. While there was hope for only 25 missions, the additional five missions have made the chances of survival even slimmer. In episode 7, the majority of the 100th are replacements, new airmen who have never flown a mission before. With this new rule change, the men of the 100th feel that the U.S. Army Air Forces do not value their lives.
P-51 Mustangs Masters of the Air - Masters Of The Air Suggests 25 Missions Were Increased Due To So Many Casualties
The new 30-mission rule is not only seen as unfair but the reason behind it makes it even more troubling. In the book Masters of the Air, it is suggested that the increase from 25 to 30 missions was due to the high number of casualties the U.S. Army Air Forces were facing at that time. While the 100th Bomb Group had a particularly tough time, the rest of the Eighth Air Force and the Air Forces overall were also struggling. Daylight bombing was extremely dangerous, and the German Luftwaffe was a formidable opponent in 1943.
Therefore, in order to make up for the loss of men, the Air Forces had to retain their soldiers for a longer period of time. This led to an increase in missions to 30. It is important to note that this information has not been officially confirmed by Masters of the Air. However, it can be inferred from the fact that the 100th has mostly been replaced with new soldiers and the missions have become more perilous as the U.S. Army Air Forces target Berlin. It stands to reason that as the invasion drew near, the Air Forces needed to bolster their numbers.
In March 1944, the Eighth Air Force launched a mission known as Black Monday, during which the 100th conducted its first bombing of Berlin.
Did The 25 Mission Rule Actually Change Due To Improving Success?
Nate Mann as Robert Rosenthal Masters of the Air Episode 7 - Did The 25 Mission Rule Actually Change Due To Improving Success?
According to The National World War II Museum, the reason for the increased missions was a shift in strategy by the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1944. Instead of focusing on bombing German factories, they started targeting the Luftwaffe.
As a result of their increased power in the air, the military decided to raise the number of missions from 25 to 30 because the chances of survival were significantly higher.
This is almost the complete opposite reason that is implied by Masters of the Air, but regardless, the 100th must handle this rule change as they have every other adversity they have faced.
Editor's P/S:
The article provides an intriguing insight into the motivations behind the increase in required missions for the men of the 100th Bomb Group in Masters of the Air. While the initial assumption was that the increase was due to the high casualty rate, the article suggests that it was actually a strategic decision by the U.S. Army Air Forces to target the Luftwaffe. This shift in focus, coupled with the increasing power of the Allied air forces, led to a higher chance of survival for airmen, prompting the decision to raise the mission requirement.
The article's exploration of the varying perspectives on the mission increase highlights the complex and often contradictory nature of war. The sense of betrayal felt by the airmen, coupled with the acknowledgment of the officers' inability to change the rule, underscores the tension between individual lives and the overall strategic goals of the war effort. The suggestion that the increase was due to improved success, rather than the high casualty rate, adds a layer of irony to the situation, as it highlights the paradoxical nature of war, where progress and loss are often intertwined.
