The rest department of 146 B-17s would direct directly to Regensburg
In brand spanking new plan, the 2 raiding forces, that have a combined overall out of 376 Flying Fortresses, were to improve initial entrance traveling as one compact force. Southern area off Frankfurt, several bomb departments having 230 flights would be to broke up aside, assault the newest Schweinfurt plant, and you can go back to The united kingdomt. Just after bombing, one force would keep southern area over Austria and you will Italy and you can residential property during the angles within the Algeria.
The brand new Thunderbolts split up new attack of one category, however the short push off escorts cannot defense every part of one's bomber formation
Beginning to the August 17 discover the newest airfields from eastern England secured having thick clouds, which were prediction to slim while the day progressed. Encountered the raiding pushes taken off very early you to definitely early morning because the arranged, they'd have risked accidents through the development set-up, therefore the assault was rescheduled. The new takeoff of the Regensburg force are put-off by the you to definitely and you can a half hours (the most appropriate, whether your bombers was to get to the unknown air-ports into the Algeria before dusk). New takeoff of your own Schweinfurt attack push is defer four circumstances.
The change away from bundle implied that the two assault forces manage penetrate opponent airspace separately. German fighters, in place of being split going contrary to the a couple of attacking forces, could are experts in for each force sequentially.