[Johannes]

Hi Oquaig

The mikrofilms cover the entire Luftwaffe war until December 1944. Most units started entering on a daily sheet, East and West around 23rd July 1942(but it varies), this handwritten sheet gives time,type, rank, claimant, area/grid reference and altitude. Prior to 23rd July 1942 there are typed-out claims for individual staffel/gruppe, these give only date, time, rank, claimant and type....much less information. There are also mikrofilms for individual pilots giving date and time only, these are in alpha order, but only Kr-Le, the lastly a micro film for individual staffels giving date and time only!

AS I say I tried to standardise the types, i.e all the variations, and variant I marked as Il-2's. Best Il-2 experten were Kittel and Brendel with 90+ each. Constable and Tolliver state Hartmann got seventy, but by memory it's about fifteen. Il-2's flew close to the ground to protect there more vunerable bellies, Hartmann seems to have stayed at high altitude!

It seems that not only was the Il-2 the hardiest and most difficult Sowiet aircraft to bring-down, but also the most dangerous. Kittel himself was lost because to was too-low to bail-out of his Fw190 after attacking Il-2's.

Kind Regards

Johannes