Luftwaffe Kills in Tunisia Compared to Recorded USAAF P-38 losses

[Mark R.]

After seeing Andrew Arthy’s excellent comparison of Allied claims against actual FW-190 losses, I decided to undertake a similar exercise for Luftwaffe kills awarded against actual U.S. P-38 losses during the Tunisian campaign. Bottom line up front: German pilots claimed/were awarded 3 kills for every 2 recorded P-38 air-to-air loss – except in February and March 43 when the percentages dipped well below 40 percent. The kills were awarded to Bf-109, FW-190, and Bf-110 pilots. As an exception to the rule, I also matched up the Ju-52 gunner and his victim from April 1943. Otherwise there appears to be no kills awarded to German bomber gunners in the Tony Woods data – although it appears at least three P-38s may have been lost to bomber defensive fire.

NOTE: I removed the original attachment because Laurent found a math error. I fixed the mistake and reposted it along with my reply and thanks! It is the file dated 7 April.

Dates where no losses occurred or claims/kills awarded have been omitted.

Sources for U.S. losses include daily mission reports for the 1st, 14th, and 82d Fighter Groups, and published unit histories, to include ADORIMINI – A History of the 82d Fighter Group in World War II by Steve Blake with John Stanaway; The 14th Fighter Group in World War II by John W. Lambert, and An Escort of P-38s – The 1st Fighter Group in World War II by John D. Mullins. Chris Shores, et al, Fighters Over Tunisia proved useful when seeking a broader perspective on each day’s combat.