After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police, Art Kramer
blurted out:

Black Thursday typical??? The term BlackThursday in itself reveals just how
atypical it was. It was called black Thursday to separate it from all other
missions so it would never be confused with any oridinary mission. They used
the term black to indicate it was a worst of missions with losses that far
exceeded the norm. Understand now?

Art...the cost in terms of airframes and lives was indeed at that
point atypical. But...please consider this carefully...the expression
Black Thursday was used after the mission ended.

However...whether the planets aligned perfectly, or the Luftwaffe
really got their **** in one sock that day, the 8th AF Bomber Command
was conducting a "typical" daylight, max effort, beyond fighter escort
raid over Germany. Understand?

None of those men (casualties or survivors) were briefed to the
effect,"Gentlemen today is Black Thursday...oh yeah the target is
Schweinfurt."

And to say Schweinfort was not typical is hardly a nit.

We'll agree to disagree. The mission was IMO a typical 8th AF, the
degree of coordinated Luftwaffe defense and the result, i.e.
staggering losses were atypical.

Juvat