Luftwaffe Myths

[Franek Grabowski]

The bombers are "attackers" but in the air they are defensive. Escort fighters if not too tied to the bombers are offensive in all almost every sense of the word.

God forgive, this way any offensive weapon when attacked turns defensive!

Franek, I keep wondering how many of these heavy bomber types were actually in operation and in significant numbers during the essential period I describe - 1939-41.

The war with Germany was in the years 1939-1945, so I do not know, why to limit the period up to 1941. Anyway, if you do not know, Halifax, Manchester and Stirling, apart of Wellington of course.

Yet again that part of having been let off the hook is essential to the development of FC. Those experienced fighter pilots evolved during the 1941-43 period, so by 1944 FC had a large cadre of highly experienced men.

Those fighter pilots evolved in the period 1939-1944! Quite to the contrary to the Luftwaffe, which lost or otherwise misused vast combat experience gathered since SCW. Management of resources is key issue here.

Certainly, flying over the channel in uncontested skies does allow the accumulation of many flight hours, steady confidence building of the pilot, his ability to handle his aircraft and a gradual exposure to (the stresses of) combat.

This is an utter nonsense. Every word of it. Sorry.

The Jagdwaffe and essentially a good operational training program, granted not geared for massive wartime expansion, but capable of producing good fighter pilots as long as there were time and resources to do so. The early wartime trainees are perhaps the best operationally trained Jagdwaffe pilots of the war. Getting the best practical and operational training.

This is no achievement. The problem is to build large and quality air force during wartime, and both Americans and British achieved this.

Those who thought it that it was madness (or stupidity) to attack the Soviet Union not voice this sentiment in public, certainly not act upon it.

Have you read Mein Kampf?