[Juha]

Hello Jim
IMHO under 16 hours, because the 16 hours incl. 2 flights in Miles Master.
Johnnie Johnson had 23 hours on Spitfire when he went to No 19 Sqn

On the other hand according to Rall’s memoirs, when he was transferred to 4./JG 52 on 20 Sept 39, he had 55 min, yes minutes, not hours, flight time in Bf 109, and that in D model. In the Staffel, which was a first-line Staffel, he got 10 hours in Bf 109E before his first combat sortie. He had spent 2 months in Werneuchen Fighter School, more or less equivalent to OTU, but most of time flying in Ar 68 in tight vic, only 5 gunnery exercises, but he cannot remember was even one air-to-air. He was introduced to Rotte and Schwarm flying only at 4./JG 52, he also flew 2 gunnery training flights in 4./JG 52 before his first combat sortie.

Yes, it is not so surprising that the first few combat sorties were often fatal to new pilots.

Juha