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Re: Hooton's Luftwaffe Loss Totals - request for clarification
With the help of forum member Nokose, who kindly provided the Eastern front data from Mr. Prien's JFV 12/I, I've compiled a set of numbers which compares the losses in the Mediterranean and the East in 1943. The comparison is imperfect, since only losses after the 4th of February are listed in the relevant volume, but two facts are striking. First of all, the chances of a German pilot surviving the loss of an aircraft were much worse in the East. What could have been the reasons for this?
Second, the Luftwaffe suffered far heavier losses in fighting against the Western allies than the Soviets in 1943. This is a strong indicator that the Soviet air force was still in the process of recovering its qualitative, if not quantitative, strength.
Mediterranean all 1943, East from 4 February 1943 onwards
KIA/MIA
Med 356, East 393
POW
Med 28, East 41
WIA/INJ
Med 236, East 221
Written Off (60-100%)
Med 1092, East 801
Med - additional to the above approximately 40 (42?) of IV/JG 3 on 23rd July on the ground at Leverano airfield
Damaged (10-60%)
Med 826, East 853
Last edited by Paul Thompson; 5th June 2012 at 18:44.
Reason: Edited for clarity
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