Operation Bolero - Bolero Superseded

Bolero Superseded

By July 1, demands from other theaters had caused a downward revision of the Bolero build-up to a total of 54 groups and 194,332 men. Later that month USAAF Headquarters estimated that by December 31, 1943, the Bolero build-up could have in place 137 groups (approximately half of the entire projected strength of the USAAF), including 74 bomb groups of all types and 31 fighter groups. It estimated that 375,000 airmen would comprise the force, 197,000 in combat units and 178,000 in the service organizations. The estimate proved to be remarkably close, particularly the size of the heavy bomber force, to the actual strength of the combined Eighth and Ninth Air Forces at the time of Operation Overlord.

In London the Bolero Committee drew up plans for the accommodation of 1,147,000 troops, including 137,000 replacements, in the United Kingdom by the end of March 1943. But by the end of July, plans for Operation Sledgehammer had been abandoned in favor of Operation Torch, and Operation Roundup was postponed until at least 1944. The Bolero committee thus found its work limited to providing assistance in the planning for an invasion of North Africa. Buildup plans for the invasion of Europe later became the province of the Overlord planners.