[Crumpp]

badly damaged a/c were of course exchanged for new/repaired aircraft and even more lightly damaged if the sqn’s own maintenance and repair organisation was unable to cope.

We are thinking of the same system then.

In the Luftwaffe, the Geschwaders did not charge off anything that was repairable and owned the airframe even when it was transferred to organizational level maintenance. The US Army has a similar system depending on the warranty. Items sent for repair remain on the books and the unit does without that equipment until it is repaired.

If the RAF used this same system the squadron would continue to own the aircraft while it was at the ASU for repairs. It would mean the squadrons did not get a new aircraft until the airframe was repaired and returned.

The RAF's system allowed the operational unit to exchange the damage airframe for a new/previously repaired aircraft on the spot. Thus they maintained a higher operational readiness at the tip of the spear.

All the best,

Crumpp