Crossword Genius

Bomber has to circle river near Rhode Island (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

harris

'bomber' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'has to circle river near rhode island' is the wordplay.
'to circle' indicates putting letters inside.
'river' becomes 'r' (abbreviation for river).
'near' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'rhode island' becomes 'RI' (US postal abbreviation).
'r'+'ri'='rri'
'has' enclosing 'rri' is 'HARRIS'.

(Other definitions for harris that I've seen before include "Tweed suits" , "Lewis with ------, Hebridean island" , "location off Scottish mainland" , "Hebridean isle associated with tweed" , "Joel Chandler --, creator of Brer Rabbit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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