Comparison of the loss data from “Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen” (available on well-known
http://www.ww2.dk/) and piece-by-piece calculation from GQM returns, some other sources like KTB StG2 and (many thanks to Matti Salonen first of all!) from NVM returns, gives the following remarkably picture:
“Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen”:
433 planes due to enemy actions (durch Feindeinwirkung, hereinafter referred to as d.F.), 354 without enemy actions (ohne Feindeinwirkung, hereinafter referred to as o.F.) and 363 “Überholung” (repair, usually assumed as tear and wear only)
Piece-by-piece calculation:
100% losses – 304;
damages 60-99% (usually assumed as unrepairable) – 83;
damages 40-59% (usually assumed as require repair outside the unit) – 87
damages 10-39% (usually assumed as require repair within the unit) – 212
Units with lacking “Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen” (harassment squadrons = Störkampfstaffeln for example) are not counted (and their losses too). But the bulk of units are counted.
Units partly based beyond Luftflotte 4 area are counted in full (and their losses too).
Some loss cases are uncertain so the summary data are approximative a bit.
But these uncertainties has no significant affects for the final results.
Comparison:
433 d.F. + 354 o.F. = 787 planes.
Losses 40-100% = 304+83+87 = 474
THE DIFFERENCE is 313 planes, or 66% !
Even if we add 10-39% damages, all losses = 474+212 = 686.
Anyway, the difference is 787-686=101 or ~15%
Is it means that GQM+NVM contains a remarkably incomplete list of losses?
Or “Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen” data means nothing?
Almost all losses of Luftflotte 4 in Apr.-Jun.43 that became known to Russians in 1943 (POWs and/or WNr or the board codes = Verbandskennzeichen mentioned in the documents) can be found in the GQM returns except few uncertain cases (further checking required).
I think the difference is partly due to some damages (both combat damages and flying accidents) assumed less than 10% and not reported to GQM but really required a repair outside the combat units. Some difference is due to the unrecorded ground losses during the Soviet air raids certainly. German army documents contains the reports about air raids losses not listed (or listed incompletely) in the GQM returns.
Any ideas?
Best regards,
Andrey