[Pieter H]

Hi Jim,
you're right, initially all these machines were operationally lost and no longer available for the airlift operation and/or supply missions. 243 of 600 is more than 40% and a very sensitive loss to the Luftwaffe operational capability at that time.

The confusion comes from the conclusion, often heard in Dutch statements, that all these machines were destroyed, and that therefore the invasion of England had to be cancelled. This is highly exaggerated as the numbers show. Again, without a detailed analysis yet, but of the 100% damaged 25% were destroyed, and then of the remainder around half were lightly damaged and were repaired on the spot for flight back to Germany in the weeks after. And half had to be disassembled and sent to factories like Fokker for re-assembly with new parts (mostly wings I suppose).

I guess that by the summer of 1940 some 90% of the originally engaged 600 were again available, supplemented by fresh production aircraft.

Cheers, Pieter