Placing the Fairey Battle.

[Franek Grabowski]

Jukka
Aircraft is not a devil flown by bad forces. It is all about science called aerodynamics and the key issue in an aircraft's aerodynamics is the airfoil and then the wing. That said, Graham's (and mine) comments on Tempest vs Typhoon airfoil characteristics is based on common (tosome degree) knowledge based on years of research.
I am also intrigued on your derogatory comments on Mustang and praising of Thunderbolt. It looks you believe both Britons (yes, they had switched plans for both types, having both at hand in quantities) and Americans were complete idiots replacing Thunderbolt in escort missions. Obviously airmen's comments do not matter as well. But well, considering you have the comfort not to go there and fight for another day, you are free to live with your beliefs.

Tony
OK, I thought you meant blood loss in combat, which actually was not that high, bulk of the losses being to extermination of population on occupied territories by both regimes. That said, I have to note that the real problem was not with armed forces but a political will. This must be seen with political corruption and treason on the highest levels of both American and British societies. Philby or Harriman were just needles in the haystock, and the real and current problem is that others were not pursued with all strength available.
Concerning books, it is a serious problem, but it must be had in mind that only in recent years Soviet archives were opened to some degree allowing for independent research. Results are astonishing and definetelly change the view of the war. That said, my comments on Il-2 are based on research in primary and period Soviet documents. Most significant find is definetelly that the aircraft was frequently used for ordinary level bombing and not ground attack missions! Simply, there were no other aircraft available in quantities. I have been interested on this particular aircraft and even have had written an article-summary of recent knowledge on the type.
I would not view British policy towards army aviation through this particular scope, and while talking about butcher, I would take some comparison of numbers. Soviets claimed they have lost some 600,000 men in Poland in 1944/45 alone. US lost some 180,000 servicemen during the whole war, and you cannot say they were not fighting.