[david Cotton]

Hello

Thanks for reading my post in detail. Your opinions certainly gave me much to consider.



Regarding Soviet aircraft quality. I think the YAK 3 and YAK9 could be considered competitive. They certainly narrowed the difference in performance that had existed around 1941 and 1942.



Regarding BoB pilots. A pilot with 50 hours would still be more hunted than hunter. I don’t think the Germans were having to commit low trained fighter pilots into the battle. However, I may be wrong there. I will pop up Hawking museum and have a chat with the guys up there as well.



Regarding German Pilot training. Were they really trained that bad? I mean Hartmen, limpfert , Knoke were all products of the war time training. JG26 and JG2 held the RAF in check until the USAAF came on the scene. Was the lack of instrument and night flying really that critical ?



I would agree that there was safe ( as it could be) for the Germans up till January 1944 ish. It must have been a surprise to find allied fighters in what you would of thought was a safe area. Allied fighters could fly from the western front to the eastern front.



However, I think you are right, this would of only really had a real effect once allied fighters were reaming over all German territory. By then the war was already lost.



I would surmise that it was simply to few pilots being trained. The numbers were probably just adequate until the USSAF joined the battle.



Regarding Marselle tactics. I did not think that he was renown for getting up close for the no deflection shot. There is a lot of risk from flying debris when you come in close from behind. I think this was a Hartman tactic and he got downed a few times from debris if I remember right. I still of the opinion that Marselle was deadly because of his deflection shooting.



Regarding Hofer. If he did get shot down by flack, then that makes non of the top aces in the Eighth lost in air to air combat.



Regarding Different planes. I am thinking on the lines of say Preddy v Hartmann. Preddy may not have the same combat hours but the mustang would of given him an edge that may have equalled the fight.



Regards

David