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Re: Australian Spitfires
I don't mind anyone disagreeing with me Rick - especially one as knowledgable as you. However I would be very interested to know where you got that figure of 50% on Japanese losses as opposed to wrecks found. How many wrecks have been found? Who/What was the source? To know that you would first have to know what the actual figure was for Japanese aircraft lost on operations over Australia in the period February to November '43. And I haven't seen you post any actual loss figures for that period.
As far as my statement that most actions occurred over the sea is no more than a generalisation.....well that is wrong. One just has to read the reports available at the AVM to know that that is in fact correct. Yes there were several actions that took place over land near Strauss and Bachelor airfields, but they can be counted on two hands. That leaves almost 45 raids that were interecepted over the sea. I think that is quite conclusive.
In fact this can be best illustrated by examining Spitfire losses due to enemy action, where the pilot either bailed out or was shot down. The figures are tabled below.
Losses Over Land (TOTAL 9)
A58-2: 6/43, 18m SW Bachelor
A58-29: 6/43, 4m NW Adelaide River
A58-32: 7/43, nr Strauss Field
A58-79: 7/43, 30m N Fenton
A58-101: 3/43, 2m W Picnic Point
A58-153: 9/43, 4m N Pioneer Creek
A58-172: 7/43, 35m W Bachelor Field
A58-227: 9/43, 15m W Strauss
Losses Over Sea (TOTAL 15)
A58-3: 5/43, W Millingbimbie Is,
A58-9: 3/43, N Darwin
A58-12: 5/43, 30m W Point Blaize
A58-17: 5/43, 20m SW Peron Island
A58-33: 7/43, nr Anson Bay
A58-34: 5/43, 30m N Darwin
A58-37: 6/43, Anson Bay area
A58-53: 6/43, 10m W Fog Bay
A58-61: 6/43, nr Anson Bay
A58-66: 5/43, 60m W Darwin
A58-67: 5/43, 60m W Darwin
A58-80: 7/43, Anson Bay area
A58-89: 5/43, 10m N Darwin
A58-92: 3/43, 25m NW Point Charles
A58-107: 6/43, nr Vernon Island
The Spitfire losses indicate that over 63% were lost at sea, 37% lost over land. That's perhaps the best indication of where the bulk of the action took place, and is more accurate than the 50% quoted above.
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