Neither Lancaster nor B-17 is considered capable of making unescorted daylight bombing safe. Heavy defensive armament and combat-box formations could shoot down some attacking fighters, but they did not remove the bombers' vulnerability. Britain also began the war with daylight-bombing ideas before turning toward night operations. Faster medium and strike bombers retained a daylight role because their speed offered a different means of survival. Billy Mitchell's claims for strategic bombing are criticised as overstating its effectiveness, and the Mosquito is offered as an alternative with fewer crew exposed on each mission.
Notable Point · 5:30:42-5:34:05
Why changing bombers would not fix daylight doctrine
Neither Lancaster nor B-17 could make unescorted daylight raids safe by itself; formation tactics, escort, and doctrine mattered more than swapping airframes.