The aircrews learned after breakfast that a twelve-aircraft repeat was being considered for the following night. Enthusiasm vanished as the danger of re-entering an alerted harbour became clear. Cunningham questioned whether it was fair to ask the same pilots and observers to undertake the ordeal again, leaving the decision to the carrier command. John Wellham's own Swordfish required new ribs, controls, fabric, and an engine inspection, illustrating the material strain behind the human fatigue.
Notable Point · 3:21:09-3:22:46
Why a second raid was not carried out
The proposed twelve-aircraft repeat confronted exhausted crews, damaged aircraft, and Cunningham's concern about demanding the same risk twice.