Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Gleeson
The combined Il-2 figures for the VVS and Fleet Air Forces are huge of course, but only apply to combat and operational losses. I presume many thousands more Shturmoviks were lost in training accidents, non-operational losses, write-offs through battle damage, etc. ? Likewise perhaps thousands more Il-2 pilots and gunners were killed or injured ?
Regards,
Martin.
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I hope this can be of help to you :
Actually, most "non combat losses" were simply old and weared airplanes. There were of course accidents but they accounted for a limited part of losses. I've got no specific figures about Shturmovik units but here are a few figures which may interest you.
Overall some 20400 personnel of soviet air forces were lost in combat in 1943-1944-1945, and about 4400 were listed as non combat losses, which includes not only accidents but also death from illness.
Additionnally, in the same time, about 5600 men were evacuated to hospitals because of injuries (no distinction between combat and non combat here) and 18500 were evacuated to hospitals because of illness or frozen parts.
On average in the WWII soviet armed forces 7.5 % of hositalized wounded servicemen died, and 3.5 % of hospitalized ill servicemen. Servicemen deceased in hospitals are included in the overall death tolls, so that a limited percentage of losses are counted twice.
Regards,
Nico.
P.S. : I also appreciate the information you've shared with us on this forum, Evgeny. Thanks for that and good luck for your time in the army.