diff --git a/include/plane.h b/include/plane.h
index 8e37d0d2..63fabceb 100644
--- a/include/plane.h
+++ b/include/plane.h
@@ -124,8 +124,7 @@ struct plchrstr {
 
 struct plist {
     struct emp_qelem queue;	/* list of planes */
-    int bombs;			/* bombs carried for bombing mission */
-    int misc;			/* amount of random item being transported */
+    int load;			/* number of bombs or items carried */
     struct plchrstr *pcp;	/* pointer to desc of plane */
     struct plnstr plane;	/* struct plane */
 };
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/bomb.c b/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
index f3a2c44f..c5021232 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ eff_bomb(struct emp_qelem *list, struct sctstr *target)
 	plp = (struct plist *)qp;
 	if (changed_plane_aborts(plp))
 	    continue;
-	if (plp->bombs || nuk_on_plane(&plp->plane) >= 0)
+	if (plp->load || nuk_on_plane(&plp->plane) >= 0)
 	    dam += pln_damage(&plp->plane, target->sct_x, target->sct_y,
 			      'p', &nukedam, 1);
     }
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ comm_bomb(struct emp_qelem *list, struct sctstr *target)
 	plp = (struct plist *)qp;
 	if (changed_plane_aborts(plp))
 	    continue;
-	if (plp->bombs || nuk_on_plane(&plp->plane) >= 0)
+	if (plp->load || nuk_on_plane(&plp->plane) >= 0)
 	    dam += pln_damage(&plp->plane, target->sct_x, target->sct_y,
 			      'p', &nukedam, 1);
     }
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ ship_bomb(struct emp_qelem *list, struct sctstr *target)
 	    continue;
 	}
 	(void)sprintf(prompt, "%s, %d bombs.  Target ('~' to skip)? ",
-		      prplane(&plp->plane), plp->bombs);
+		      prplane(&plp->plane), plp->load);
 	shipno = -1;
 	while (shipno < 0) {
 	    if (!(q = getstring(prompt, buf)))
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ plane_bomb(struct emp_qelem *list, struct sctstr *target)
 	    continue;
 	}
 	(void)sprintf(prompt, "%s, %d bombs.  Target ('~' to skip)? ",
-		      prplane(&plp->plane), plp->bombs);
+		      prplane(&plp->plane), plp->load);
 	planeno = -1;
 	while (planeno < 0) {
 	    if (!(q = getstring(prompt, buf)))
@@ -709,7 +709,7 @@ land_bomb(struct emp_qelem *list, struct sctstr *target)
 	    continue;
 	}
 	(void)sprintf(prompt, "%s, %d bombs.  Target ('~' to skip)? ",
-		      prplane(&plp->plane), plp->bombs);
+		      prplane(&plp->plane), plp->load);
 	unitno = -1;
 	while (unitno < 0) {
 	    if (!(q = getstring(prompt, buf)))
@@ -796,7 +796,7 @@ strat_bomb(struct emp_qelem *list, struct sctstr *target)
 
     for (qp = list->q_forw; qp != list; qp = qp->q_forw) {
 	plp = (struct plist *)qp;
-	if (plp->bombs || nuk_on_plane(&plp->plane) >= 0)
+	if (plp->load || nuk_on_plane(&plp->plane) >= 0)
 	    dam += pln_damage(&plp->plane, target->sct_x, target->sct_y,
 			      's', &nukedam, 1);
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/para.c b/src/lib/commands/para.c
index 33faa339..3fd38f37 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/para.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/para.c
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ paradrop(struct emp_qelem *list, coord x, coord y)
     att_combat_init(off, EF_PLANE);
     for (qp = list->q_forw; qp != list; qp = qp->q_forw) {
 	plp = (struct plist *)qp;
-	off->troops += plp->misc;
+	off->troops += plp->load;
     }
     off->mil = off->troops;
     if (att_abort(A_PARA, off, def)) {
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c b/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c
index 43454684..56b73889 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c
@@ -492,9 +492,9 @@ ac_dog(struct plist *ap, struct plist *dp)
     def = pln_def(&dp->plane) * dp->plane.pln_effic / 100;
     def = MAX(def, dp->pcp->pl_def / 2);
 
-    if ((ap->pcp->pl_flags & P_F) && ap->bombs + ap->misc != 0)
+    if ((ap->pcp->pl_flags & P_F) && ap->load != 0)
 	att -= 2;
-    if ((dp->pcp->pl_flags & P_F) && dp->bombs + ap->misc != 0)
+    if ((dp->pcp->pl_flags & P_F) && dp->load != 0)
 	def -= 2;
     att += ap->pcp->pl_stealth / 25.0;
     def += dp->pcp->pl_stealth / 25.0;
@@ -837,8 +837,7 @@ getilists(struct emp_qelem *list, unsigned char *rel, natid intruder)
 	    continue;
 	/* got one! */
 	ip = malloc(sizeof(*ip));
-	ip->bombs = 0;
-	ip->misc = 0;
+	ip->load = 0;
 	ip->pcp = &plchr[(int)plane.pln_type];
 	ip->plane = plane;
 	emp_insque(&ip->queue, &list[plane.pln_own]);
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/mission.c b/src/lib/subs/mission.c
index f28ed6fc..a256d827 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/mission.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/mission.c
@@ -956,10 +956,7 @@ mission_pln_equip(struct plist *plp, struct ichrstr *ip, char mission)
 	if (item[itype] < needed)
 	    return -1;
 	item[itype] -= needed;
-	if (itype == I_SHELL && (mission == 's' || mission == 'p'))
-	    plp->bombs = needed;
-	else
-	    plp->misc = needed;
+	plp->load = needed;
     }
 
     if (pp->pln_ship >= 0)
@@ -1048,7 +1045,7 @@ air_damage(struct emp_qelem *bombers, coord x, coord y, int mission,
 	if ((mission == MI_SINTERDICT) && !(plp->pcp->pl_flags & P_A))
 	    continue;
 
-	if (!plp->bombs)
+	if (!plp->load)
 	    continue;
 
 	newdam = 0;
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/mslsub.c b/src/lib/subs/mslsub.c
index b982d12e..872d72ca 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/mslsub.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/mslsub.c
@@ -210,8 +210,7 @@ msl_sel(struct emp_qelem *list, coord x, coord y, natid victim,
 	    continue;
 	/* got a valid interceptor */
 	irv = malloc(sizeof(*irv));
-	irv->bombs = 0;
-	irv->misc = 0;
+	irv->load = 0;
 	irv->pcp = &plchr[(int)plane.pln_type];
 	irv->plane = plane;
 	emp_insque(&irv->queue, list);
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c b/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
index 71e09f37..2149375c 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ pln_dropoff(struct emp_qelem *list, struct ichrstr *ip, coord tx, coord ty,
     amt = 0;
     for (qp = list->q_forw; qp != list; qp = qp->q_forw) {
 	plp = (struct plist *)qp;
-	amt += plp->misc;
+	amt += plp->load;
     }
     if (cno < 0) {
 	getsect(tx, ty, &sect);
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ pln_mine(struct emp_qelem *list, coord tx, coord ty)
     amt = 0;
     for (qp = list->q_forw; qp != list; qp = qp->q_forw) {
 	plp = (struct plist *)qp;
-	amt += plp->misc;
+	amt += plp->load;
 
     }
     if (amt > 0) {
@@ -580,8 +580,7 @@ pln_sel(struct nstr_item *ni, struct emp_qelem *list, struct sctstr *ap,
 	plane.pln_mission = 0;
 	putplane(plane.pln_uid, &plane);
 	plp = malloc(sizeof(struct plist));
-	plp->misc = 0;
-	plp->bombs = 0;
+	plp->load = 0;
 	plp->pcp = pcp;
 	plp->plane = plane;
 	emp_insque(&plp->queue, list);
@@ -716,10 +715,7 @@ pln_equip(struct plist *plp, struct ichrstr *ip, char mission)
 	    return -1;
 	}
 	item[itype] -= needed;
-	if (itype == I_SHELL && (mission == 's' || mission == 'p'))
-	    plp->bombs = needed;
-	else
-	    plp->misc = needed;
+	plp->load = needed;
     }
 
     if (pp->pln_ship >= 0) {