Judging a reconnaissance aircraft only by its losses can misrepresent its value. A highly useful platform may be sent repeatedly on missions that other aircraft are less likely to survive, so its exposure keeps increasing. Vigilantes could draw fire to reveal enemy air-defense positions, allowing suppression attacks to clear routes for bombers and protect other aircraft and crews. A fair assessment includes the sorties survived and the lives protected by the intelligence gathered, as well as the airframes lost.
Notable Point · 6:34-10:16
Why reconnaissance losses can conceal an aircraft's value
Vigilante losses are set against the dangerous missions it repeatedly flew to locate enemy air defenses and protect later strike aircraft.