The number of BC aircraft destroyed has apparently undergone a significant revision.
Dizzy Allen quoted 8,325 losses; Fahy has 8,403, but the website
http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/raf_bc/ claims to have the details of 14,194 aircraft and crews lost by Bomber Command, comprising 12,853 squadron aircraft, 958 from Operational Training Units and 125 from the Heavy Conversion Units.
Does anyone have an explanation?
And presumably this number does not include uncrewed BC aircraft destroyed on the ground.
The same website states that the groundcrew:aircrew ratio was greater than 10:1. So if in March 1943 there were 8,300 aircrew (1,189 heavies x 7 aircrew) and in April 1945 there were 18,963 aircrew (2,709 heavies x 7), then groundcrew could have numbered 100,000 in 1943 and 200,000 in 1945. Is this the best possible estimate?
source for aircraft numbers is the order of battle given on
http://www.hellzapoppin.demon.co.uk/battleorder45.htm
Tony