Luftwaffe Claims/Losses September '39 - June '40

[robert]

Hi,
I wrote a book about airwar over Poland in September 1939 but it was not published and probably will be not published. I think I do have all Luftwaffe claims including bomber and recon units but the losses are for sure incomplete especially for recon units. But I did not summerized these numbers yet.

[Broncazonk]

Originally Posted by robert

Hi,
I wrote a book about air war over Poland in September 1939 but it was not published and probably will be not published. I think I do have all Luftwaffe claims including bomber and recon units but the losses are for sure incomplete especially for recon units. But I did not summarized these numbers yet.

Important work, this. I am beginning to believe that Luftwaffe losses in Poland set the stage for Luftwaffe losses during the Battle of France which set the stage for Luftwaffe losses during the Battle of Britain which set the stage for...

Bronc

[Nick Beale]

For the campaign in the West, I’d suggest “The Battle of France Then and Now” by Peter Cornwell https://www.abebooks.co.uk/first-edi...31643683646/bd

[Broncazonk]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

For the campaign in the West, I’d suggest “The Battle of France Then and Now” by Peter Cornwell https://www.abebooks.co.uk/first-edi...31643683646/bd

Wow...

"Peter Cornwell now redresses the balance as he describes the day-to-day events as the battle unfolds, and details the losses suffered by all six nations Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany and, rather belatedly, Italy. The Royal Air Force lost more than a thousand aircraft of all types over the Western Front during the six-week battle, but Luftwaffe losses were even higher at over 1,800 aircraft. Having the disadvantage of fighting over foreign soil, the RAF had many men made prisoner when baling out or crashing behind enemy lines. All told, between September 3, 1939 and June 24, 1940, the RAF lost 1,127 airmen, of whom 415 paid the supreme sacrifice."

[Alfred.MONZAT]

Strategy for defeat by Williamson Murray have see this table: https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF....html#tableIII

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Broncazonk

I am beginning to believe that Luftwaffe losses in Poland set the stage for Luftwaffe losses during the Battle of France which set the stage for Luftwaffe losses during the Battle of Britain which set the stage for...

Bronc

All true but it's also worth considering the intervals between campaigns: Poland in September 1939, then a six month gap until Denmark and Norway in April 1940, which overlapped with the Low Countries/France in May. French Armistice on 25 June, two week pause until the »Kanalkampf« starts on 10 July, then the "intensified air war against England" opens on 13 August.

(Disclaimer: of course there was always something going on, even in the "gaps").

They did have a lot of time to replenish losses after Poland and absorb any tactical or technical lessons but that wasn't really true in the fighting from April 1940. I really don't know how you balance losses in combat against valuable experience gained by the survivors.