[ArtieBob]

Dear Junghans,
Welcome, and you are now confronting a historian's dilema. If you have information from one source
that appears to be reliable, you may be tempted to believe that you have discovered a historical fact.
If you find a second source for the same information you will often find they are in conflict! What is
the information you really want to believe? The options are: first is correct, second is correct,
neither is correct, or even that both are correct. Sometimes, you may find yet another source that
agrees with one of the earlier items and you will be tempted to go with 2 out of 3 as the most likely
correct information, it will be Hobson's choice. Consider the following, on the russian front in 1942,
recording data precisely was attempted, but typos and other errors crept in. The data I provided came
from a microfilm copy of Gen.Qu.Abt 6 loss list. Errata lists for that document were periodically
published, but these almost certainly did not catch all errors. Espcially in question were the German
spelling and names given to locations in the East. In addition, some of the microfilm images were poor
quality and very difficlt to read. But, in this instance, both sources could be correct as aircraft were
sometimes "loaned" to other units. IIRC "W" would be the 12. Staffel, but depending on the period of
the war might be either III. or IV. Gruppe.
In summary, be very careful about making absolute judgements about anything having to do with the
Luftwaffe, as there are many, many items which will not be as clearcut and simple as they first appear.

Best Regards,
ArtieBob