So that aspect of Catch-22 was not correct, then? (As soon as anyone got close, they would raise the number of missions).
I read the book in high school - thought it was good - the movie was beyond stupid. Maybe I matured.
Just offhand, I remember that the USAAF did raise the required number of missions a few times, but it was in the Army’s interest that the men had a chance to make it through. I doubt that he read Catch-22, but my uncle said that Memphis Belle was very realistic.