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#1135719 - 06/04/02 08:02 AM Some Facts about German Aircraft Losses in WWII
Anonymous
Unregistered

Hello All

There has been a lot of misinformation posted on these boards about how many planes the Germans lost versus the Soviets or versus the Western Allies.

For example, the Soviet Official claim of 44,000 German aircraft shot down has been taken by many as being fact, when it is actually Stalinist propaganda.


Here are some figures on Aircraft losses for the Luftwaffe. They come from “Luftwaffe” by Williamson Murray a British author. His sources for the losses were the actual German records sent by each Jagdgeschwader to Luftwaffe Headquarters and for the eyes of the Luftwaffe Commanders only. They are not based on either Allied or Soviet claims of aircraft destroyed. “Luftwaffe” is one of the best analysis of why the Germans lost the war in the air which I have come across. I have had to take the Charts and tables which he has provided, which means in some cases the figures I would be interested in were not available. However enough is there to shed light on the realities of who and where losses were inflicted.

>>>>>

Total German Operational Strength May 1940 (Operational strength is the aircraft actually ready to fly, not including aircraft on the books but in repair or depots)

Fighters: 1369

Others: 4029

Total: 5398


Total German Aircraft losses due to enemy action May-September 1940 (Invasion of France and Battle of Britain)

Fighters: 871

Others: 1442

Total: 2313


Total German Fighter Pilot casualties. (Casualties include Deaths, Serious Woundings, and Captures. Fighter Pilot casualties are to be differentiated from Aircraft losses which can be replaced)

May-June 1940 (Battle of France)

169

July-September 1940 (Battle of Britain)

521

You will notice the big increase in German Pilot Casualties during the Battle of Britain. This was due to the fact the Jagdwaffe were flying over hostile territory at extreme range.


Total German Aircraft losses due to enemy action October-December 1940 (Night Blitz of Britain)

Fighters: 40

Bombers: 140


--------------------------------------


Total German Operational Strength January 1941

Fighters: 1339

Others: 3008

Total: 4347


Average German Operational Strength versus Soviet Union June-November 1941

Fighters: 738 (55% of Total Jan. Operational strength)

Other: 1724

Total: 2462 (57% of Total Jan. Operational strength)


Total German Aircraft Losses due to enemy action January-December 1941 (not including November, figures N/A)

Fighters: 868

Other: 1981

Total: 2849


Percentage of Total German Aircraft lost Monthly, All Fronts January-December 1941

January: 2.6%

February: 3.6%

March: 4.9%

April: 7.2%

May: 7.5%

June: 11.6%

July: 16.1%

August: 9.8%

September: 8.8%

October: 7.7%

November: 6.5%

December: 7.1%


You can see from the above chart the German losses are quite small when their only active Front is the English Channel. Losses begin to rise in April with the Balkan Campaigns in Yugoslavia and Greece versus the British Expeditionary Forces there, as well as the commitment to North Africa with Rommel. The Germans had significant losses on Crete, especially in Transport and Bombers. With the invasion of the Soviet Union losses jump very significantly in the first few months. But after the Soviet airforce is to all intents destroyed, the losses begin to reduce again.


Percentage of Total German Fighter Aircraft lost Monthly, All Fronts January-December 1941

January: 2.1%

February: 3.6%

March: 4.7%

April: 6.4%

May: 6.8%

June: 14.2%

July: 22.9%

August: 13.4%

September: 12.6%

October: 6.0%

November: N/A

December: 10.2%


This Chart shows the German Fighter losses with the invasion of the Soviet Union are proportionately a little higher than overall losses.
---------------------------------

German Operational Strength January 1942

Fighters: 1324

Other: 3809

Total: 5133


I do not have percentages of the Aircraft deployment by Front. However in November of 1941, Luftflotte 2, comprising approx. 600 aircraft was transferred to the Mediterranean to assist in the suppression of Malta.


German Monthly Total Aircraft Losses All Fronts January to May 1942.

January: 428

February: 415

March: 564

April: 525

May: 772


This Chart shows the heaviest losses begin March with the failed Counter-Offensive by the Soviets at Kharkov.


Total German Aircraft Losses January to May 1942

All Aircraft: 2704


Total German Monthly Aircraft Losses June to December 1942 by Front. All Aircraft

Month----Eastern Front----All other Fronts

June--------350------------------299

July--------438------------------386

August------436------------------371

September---332------------------206

October-----200------------------324

November----224------------------595

December----408------------------366


This is my first Chart which shows the actual breakdown of losses by Front. You can see the losses on the Eastern Front are higher during the Summer ’42 offensive, but losses in the West are higher in October and November during the fighting at El Alamein and during the invasion of North Africa, “Torch”. Eastern Front losses then move ahead again during December when the foolishly ordered airlift to Stalingrad was at its height. There were significant Transport and Bomber losses at that time.


Total German Aircraft Losses June to December 1942 by Front

Eastern Front

All Aircraft: 2388

Other Fronts

All Aircraft: 2547

You can see from this, that the overall aircraft losses during the second half of ’42 begin to shift to the West.

----------------------------------------------------------


German Operational Aircraft Strength February 1943

Fighters: 1360

Others: 4014

Total: 5374


Distribution of Authorized German Fighter Strength January 1943 (note this is Authorized strength or Paper strength, not Operational strength)

Eastern Front: 445

Mediterranean: 280

NorthWest Europe: 1045


From this you can see 74% of German Fighter strength is concentrated against the Western Allies.


German Monthly Aircraft Losses in 1943 by Front. First number is total Aircraft losses/Second number is Fighter losses

Month----Eastern----Mediterranean----Northwest Europe

January--482--85-----282--124---------176--87

February-318--63-----206--89----------182--77

March----314--100----308--140---------256--140

April----238--67-----572--247---------256--143

May------331--110----333--97----------331--183

June-----249--85-----235--131---------313--157

July-----558--201----711--246---------526--335

August---472--150----321--133---------625--248

September-338--99-----503--167--------522--276

October---279--94-----285--92---------530--281

November--194--45-----180--54---------529--281

December---------Not Available


In January the German losses are slightly higher on the Eastern Front than both the Mediterranean and Northwest Europe combined. This reflects the continued attempted airlift to Stalingrad. But after that, losses versus the Western Allies become much more significant. Losses are very high during the close of the Tunisian Campaign, especially during the abortive attempted Air Supply phase. Even during the Kursk Offensive and subsequent Soviet Counter-Offensive, the losses are less than those suffered during the Sicily invasion. Meanwhile as the 8th Air Force Bombing Offensive begins in July of ’43, the German losses in Northwest Europe begin to climb till they are largest portion of all losses. Notice especially the higher proportion of Fighters lost in Northwest Europe.


Total Aircraft Losses in 1943 by Front (excluding December)

Eastern Front

Fighters: 1099

Total: 3773

Mediterranean Front

Fighters: 1520

Total: 3936

Northwest Europe Front

Fighters: 2208

Total: 4246


Total German Aircraft losses inflicted in 1943, Western Allies vs Soviet Union

Western Allies: 8182

Soviet Union: 3773


German Monthly Fighter Pilot Casualties January to December 1943

January: 137

February: 115

March: 155

April: 206

May: 266

June: 246

July: 330

August: 333

September: 343

October: 339

November: 245

December: 252


Of these casualties, the majority have been inflicted by the Western Allies.


Total German Operational Strength January 1944

Fighters: 1561

Others: 5180

Total: 6741


Distribution of Authorized German Fighter Strength January 1944

Eastern Front: 425

Mediterranean: 365

Northwest Europe: 1650


You can see from this 82% of German Fighter Strength is concentrated against the Western Allies at the start of 1944.


Unfortunately Murray’s book does not include figures which show losses by Front during 1944. However eduacated guesses can be made.


Total Monthly German Aircraft Losses January-May 1944. First number is total Aircraft losses/Second number is Fighter losses.


January: 991----473

February: N/A

March: 1770----985

April: N/A

May: 1882----831


You can see the monthly losses are much higher than in earlier years.


Monthly Percentage of Total German Aircraft Strength Lost January-June 1944


January: 14.7

February: 20.5

March: 25.6

April: 28.2

May: 27.8

June: 22.7


Monthly Percentage of Total German Fighter Strength Lost January-June 1944


January: 30.3

February: 33.8

March: 56.4

April: 43

May: 50.4

June: 48.3


Since 82% of the German Fighter strength is concentrated against the Western Allies, the overwhelming majority of the fighter casualties are likely inflicted by British or U.S. Pilots.


German Fighter Pilot Casualties January to May 1944

January: 292

February: 434

March: 511

April: 447

May: 578


Compare these Pilot losses with the previous tables showing Pilot losses during 1940 and 1943. You can see the attrition has become enormous.


Distribution of Authorized German Fighter Strength July 1944

Eastern Front: 475

Balkans (Mediterranean): 65

Northwest Europe: 835


Compare this table with the Authorized German Fighter Strength in January 1944. You can see the Eastern Front totals are much the same. But the strength facing the Western Allies has shrunk to 45% of what it was in January. This reflects the tremendous losses in the Battle for Germany.


Jagdgeschwader 26 Pilot Casualties by Year. (JG26 were based in France and Germany versus the Western Allies. Sometimes called the Abbeville Boys)

1939: 2
1940: 51
1941: 64
1942: 69
1943: 149
1944: 249
1945: 110

You can see from this table that during the years when JG26 was only facing short range Spitfires and ineffective British medium bombers, it could pick its time to fight or not to fight, and so casualties were very low. But with the advent of the B-17 daylight offensive, and the nessesity to intercept these destructive and accurate formations, casualties skyrocket.

[This message has been edited by Diogenes (edited 06-04-2002).]


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#1135720 - 06/04/02 09:03 AM Re: Some Facts about German Aircraft Losses in WWII
Anonymous
Unregistered

Diogenes, thanks for that its most comprehensive.

The only comment I'd make is that the high attrition rates in '43-'44, and particularly post D Day, when allied a/c were based in France etc were not always associated with long range American escort fighters. Don't forget the likely effects of Mk XIVs and Tempests etc.


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#1135721 - 06/04/02 09:16 AM Re: Some Facts about German Aircraft Losses in WWII
Dietger Offline
Member

Registered: 02/08/01
Loc: Konstanz Deutschland
Thanks Diogenes.

Very interesting, most ppl probably didnt know this facts and numbers.

Dietger
_________________________
--------------------
Falkster's Ju-88 fan site:
http://www.ju88.de.tf

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#1135722 - 06/04/02 10:28 AM Re: Some Facts about German Aircraft Losses in WWII
Anonymous
Unregistered

Great job Diogenes.

I always appreciate it when someone takes the time and effort to research the facts.

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#1135723 - 06/04/02 10:48 AM Re: Some Facts about German Aircraft Losses in WWII
kaa Offline
Member

Registered: 01/10/01
Loc: France
about the losses of the Schlageter Geschwader...a JG could barely have in the same time more than one hundred of fighter pilots...it means than for instance in 1944 , the JG 26 lost 200 % of its theoric flying personnel...and 100% in the 4 or 5 months of 1945...it is a tremendous slaughter...but it was so NECESSARY to shoot them down !!

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#1135724 - 06/04/02 12:52 PM Re: Some Facts about German Aircraft Losses in WWII
Anonymous
Unregistered

Nice work Diogenes !

Did some number catching myself yesterday about the Focke-Wulfs.

http://www.simhq.com/simhq3/sims/boards/bbs/Forum35/HTML/011991.html

Fighters are not fighters. The Luftflotte
Reich had a large nightfighter force.

Operational planes for the Luftflotte Reich,
31st May 1944:

Fighter, 1-engine____________444
Fighter, 2-engine_____________71
Nightfighters________________421
Fighterbombers_______________25

Same date, Luftflotten 1,4,5,6 + LW Kdo
South East (Balkan):

Fighter, 1-engine____________407
Fighter, 2-engine_____________69
Nightfighters_________________97
Fighterbombers______________485
Night-Fighterbombers_________264

Now the picture seems different and more
correct. At last to me.

Dora-9

[This message has been edited by Dora-9 (edited 06-04-2002).]

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#1135725 - 06/04/02 01:37 PM Re: Some Facts about German Aircraft Losses in WWII
Anonymous
Unregistered

Also remember that MANY of those aircraft were destroyed on the ground, especially by P-47s.


Quite a shame the Allies were too cowardly in their P-47s to engage the thousands of A/C they destroyed on the ground, in the air. Let the record show they were AFRAID of deadly 109s and 190s!


Hahaha. Call 'em as I see 'em!



------------------
"I DARE you to take your fricken' Yak or La5FN past 7,000m!"

Bf-109.. to fly where the Eagles Dare.

-Obltn Kretsler

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#1135726 - 06/04/02 03:56 PM Re: Some Facts about German Aircraft Losses in WWII
Anonymous
Unregistered

Seems that you have overlooked one important factor.This war was not in any way a game to be played like a damn football game.This war destroyed people and whole countries.
The Allies were in no mood to play games.The free world was in no mood at all.
Enemy armies,and airforces were destroyed as methodically as possible, in late 44 and 45,in the air,on the ground,anywhere they were found.No allied pilot was in the mood to allow the enemy into the air to prove who was the best.That idea was sheer stupidity.
This wasnt Warbirds online.Give us a break

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#1135727 - 06/04/02 04:17 PM Re: Some Facts about German Aircraft Losses in WWII
Grim_Death Offline
Member

Registered: 08/09/00
Loc: Columbus GA
I second that Christopher.
To call anyone that fought in ANY war a coward is just plain stupid. I want to say more, but the post made me feel so sick, I can't formulate to words.


------------------
Grim_Death out.
AKA 336th_Uthor(HyperLobby)
I'm a dot.
http://www.devil-dawgs.com/
_________________________
SimHQ's Resident Soultaker
Regno, Regnavi, Sum sine regno, Regnabo

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#1135728 - 06/04/02 05:11 PM Re: Some Facts about German Aircraft Losses in WWII
Stonewall Jackson Offline
Member

Registered: 12/22/01
Loc: Pasadena, CA
Quote:
Originally posted by I/JG51^Kretsler:
Also remember that MANY of those aircraft were destroyed on the ground, especially by P-47s.

Quite a shame the Allies were too cowardly in their P-47s to engage the thousands of A/C they destroyed on the ground, in the air. Let the record show they were AFRAID of deadly 109s and 190s!

Hahaha. Call 'em as I see 'em!



Moron, you'd crap your pants to even get in one of these planes.
_________________________
"Character is like a tree and a reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
- Abraham Lincoln

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