diff --git a/include/prototypes.h b/include/prototypes.h
index 8c7791e8..4c10f0f3 100644
--- a/include/prototypes.h
+++ b/include/prototypes.h
@@ -535,6 +535,8 @@ extern int pln_postread(int, void *);
 extern int pln_prewrite(int, void *);
 /* plnsub.c */
 extern void count_planes(struct shpstr *);
+extern int get_planes(struct nstr_item *, struct nstr_item *,
+		      char *, char *);
 extern struct sctstr *get_assembly_point(char *, struct sctstr *, char *);
 extern int pln_onewaymission(struct sctstr *, int *, int *);
 extern int pln_oneway_to_carrier_ok(struct emp_qelem *,
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/bomb.c b/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
index 1445b3f8..87133567 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
@@ -99,11 +99,8 @@ bomb(void)
     char buf[1024];
 
     wantflags = 0;
-    if (!snxtitem(&ni_bomb, EF_PLANE, player->argp[1]))
+    if (get_planes(&ni_bomb, &ni_esc, player->argp[1], player->argp[2]) < 0)
 	return RET_SYN;
-    if (!snxtitem(&ni_esc, EF_PLANE,
-		  getstarg(player->argp[2], "escort(s)? ", buf)))
-	pr("No escorts...\n");
     p = getstarg(player->argp[3], "pinpoint, or strategic? ", buf);
     if (!p || !*p)
 	return RET_SYN;
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/drop.c b/src/lib/commands/drop.c
index a3317af5..e33bb086 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/drop.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/drop.c
@@ -58,11 +58,8 @@ drop(void)
     char buf[1024];
 
     wantflags = 0;
-    if (!snxtitem(&ni_bomb, EF_PLANE, player->argp[1]))
+    if (get_planes(&ni_bomb, &ni_esc, player->argp[1], player->argp[2]) < 0)
 	return RET_SYN;
-    if (!snxtitem(&ni_esc, EF_PLANE,
-		  getstarg(player->argp[2], "escort(s)? ", buf)))
-	pr("No escorts...\n");
     if (!get_assembly_point(player->argp[3], &ap_sect, buf))
 	return RET_SYN;
     ax = ap_sect.sct_x;
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/fly.c b/src/lib/commands/fly.c
index 97304f7d..b0095b76 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/fly.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/fly.c
@@ -60,11 +60,8 @@ fly(void)
     char buf[1024];
 
     wantflags = 0;
-    if (!snxtitem(&ni_bomb, EF_PLANE, player->argp[1]))
+    if (get_planes(&ni_bomb, &ni_esc, player->argp[1], player->argp[2]) < 0)
 	return RET_SYN;
-    if (!snxtitem(&ni_esc, EF_PLANE,
-		  getstarg(player->argp[2], "escort(s)? ", buf)))
-	pr("No escorts...\n");
     if (!get_assembly_point(player->argp[3], &ap_sect, buf))
 	return RET_SYN;
     ax = ap_sect.sct_x;
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/para.c b/src/lib/commands/para.c
index 9c976b2b..620fc457 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/para.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/para.c
@@ -63,11 +63,8 @@ para(void)
     char buf[1024];
 
     wantflags = P_P;
-    if (!snxtitem(&ni_bomb, EF_PLANE, player->argp[1]))
+    if (get_planes(&ni_bomb, &ni_esc, player->argp[1], player->argp[2]) < 0)
 	return RET_SYN;
-    if (!snxtitem(&ni_esc, EF_PLANE,
-		  getstarg(player->argp[2], "escort(s)? ", buf)))
-	pr("No escorts...\n");
     if (!get_assembly_point(player->argp[3], &ap_sect, buf))
 	return RET_SYN;
     ax = ap_sect.sct_x;
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/reco.c b/src/lib/commands/reco.c
index fcd4d135..a28387fb 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/reco.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/reco.c
@@ -57,11 +57,8 @@ reco(void)
     char buf[1024];
 
     wantflags = 0;
-    if (!snxtitem(&ni_bomb, EF_PLANE, player->argp[1]))
+    if (get_planes(&ni_bomb, &ni_esc, player->argp[1], player->argp[2]) < 0)
 	return RET_SYN;
-    if (!snxtitem(&ni_esc, EF_PLANE,
-		  getstarg(player->argp[2], "escort(s)? ", buf)))
-	pr("No escorts...\n");
     if (!get_assembly_point(player->argp[3], &ap_sect, buf))
 	return RET_SYN;
     ax = ap_sect.sct_x;
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c b/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
index 73f2d797..ae9afdfd 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/plnsub.c
@@ -57,6 +57,29 @@
 static int pln_equip(struct plist *, struct ichrstr *, int, char);
 static int fit_plane_on_ship(struct plnstr *, struct shpstr *);
 
+/*
+ * Get planes and escorts argument.
+ * Read planes into *NI_BOMB, and (optional) escorts into *NI_ESC.
+ * If INPUT_BOMB is not empty, use it, else prompt for more input.
+ * Same for INPUT_ESC.
+ * If we got a plane argument, initialize *NI_BOMB and *NI_ESC, and
+ * return 0.
+ * Else return -1 (*NI_BOMB and *NI_ESC may be modified).
+ */
+int
+get_planes(struct nstr_item *ni_bomb, struct nstr_item *ni_esc,
+	   char *input_bomb, char *input_esc)
+{
+    char buf[1024];
+
+    if (!snxtitem(ni_bomb, EF_PLANE, input_bomb))
+	return -1;
+    if (!snxtitem(ni_esc, EF_PLANE,
+		  getstarg(input_esc, "escort(s)? ", buf)))
+	pr("No escorts...\n");
+    return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Get assembly point argument.
  * If INPUT is not empty, use it, else prompt for more input using PROMPT.