For Schweinfurt raid to be escorted, Allies need fighters with radius of comfortable 500 miles. That would be the low limit for the 'long range fighter'?
I agree that Ruhr was a rewarding target, the 350-400 mile fighters would do the job there. London to Essen was just above 300 miles, 'as the crow flies'; just under 250 from Dover to Essen.
One can only wonder what a force consisted from B-17s, Mossies, P-47s, Spit VIIIs and P-38s would've accomplished there during the second half of 1943. Both vs. ground targets and vs. LW fighter force.
I agree that Ruhr was a rewarding target, the 350-400 mile fighters would do the job there. London to Essen was just above 300 miles, 'as the crow flies'; just under 250 from Dover to Essen.
One can only wonder what a force consisted from B-17s, Mossies, P-47s, Spit VIIIs and P-38s would've accomplished there during the second half of 1943. Both vs. ground targets and vs. LW fighter force.