"Daventry" broadcasts of USAAF + RAF losses

[Sylvester Stadler]

Don:

Years ago I had read that the BBC reported the losses which occured over German-held territory and those which crashed into the sea since the Germans in all probability knew of these losses anyway since they could examine the crashes and that it did not give away any information. These broadcasts did not include crashes in Britain or friendly territory nor did they include the Category E--damaged beyond repair, which could add around another 10% to the totals. The RAF raid on Nürnberg on March 30-31, 1944 comes to mind when a total of 108 aircraft were lost of which 96 were reported by the BBC and which are still reported in many publications.

Another example which has been mentioned is the Berlin raid by the 8th AF on March 6, 1944 which resulted in an additional six bombers and three fighters being written-off. Again few publications mention the additional nine aircraft which would bring the total to 89 lost rather than the 80 announced.