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While these stories apparently describe the earlier “Sperry [S-1] bombsight” and not the later “Norden”, they do capture the general spirit of the times and the sense that the rumor mill surrounding both of them had taken off.{{efn|The Navy was apparently keen to differentiate between the earlier Sperry and later Norden.<ref>{{cite news |title=Navy Guards ‘Mr. X,’ Inventor of Secret Bombsight |work=Elmira Star-Gazette |date=26 November 1940}}</ref>}} | While these stories apparently describe the earlier “Sperry [S-1] bombsight” and not the later “Norden”, they do capture the general spirit of the times and the sense that the rumor mill surrounding both of them had taken off.{{efn|The Navy was apparently keen to differentiate between the earlier Sperry and later Norden.<ref>{{cite news |title=Navy Guards ‘Mr. X,’ Inventor of Secret Bombsight |work=Elmira Star-Gazette |date=26 November 1940}}</ref>}} | ||
The reality was that accuracy was far worse. In 1943, “only 16 percent of bombs fell within 1,000 feet of the aiming point”. By 1945, however, this had increased to 60 percent. | The reality was that accuracy was far worse. In 1943, “only 16 percent of bombs fell within 1,000 feet of the aiming point”. By 1945, however, this had increased to 60 percent.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Correll |first=John T. |date=1 October 2008 |title=Daylight Precision Bombing |url=http://www.airforcemag.com/article/1008daylight |magazine=Air Force |access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref> | ||
=== How secret was the Norden bombsight? Was the secrecy effective? === | === How secret was the Norden bombsight? Was the secrecy effective? === |