Allied air superiority in 1944: P-47 D Razorback decided it?

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by drgondog

Repositioning of LW S/E and T/E Fighter Force from East to Central Germany
The second not so well discussed facet of Operation POINTBLANK (or difference of opinion regarding the same facts) is the reaction by German command regarding the alarm created by 8th AF attacks in the summer of 1944, particularly culminating in the joint strikes by AAF and RAF on Hamburg and the re-organization of the Luftwaffe after Jeschonnek's suicide. That raid marked the end of the notion that Defense of the Reich could be adequately managed by LuftFlotte 3. The migration of experienced JG 3, JG 11, 27 and 53 started stripping the East and moving to defense of Reich. The result on expanding air operations from UK into the Reich had a two fold impact, namely reducing the LW activity in both East and South to one of defensive operations with far too few aircraft to play an important role in supporting the Wermacht, and developing a layered defense approach to Defense of the Reich.

By January 1944, 75% of German fighter strength opposing POINTBLANK was concentrated in Germany, the remainder between the Loire estuary and Norway (quoted from the Rise and Fall of the German Air Force - written by RAF General Staff).

Bill, the crisis in summer 1943 was caused by several operations, of which the Hamburg raids were just a part. The most prominent action on the fighting fronts at the time was the collapse of the Axis forces in Sicily in July. This forced the halt of all operations on the Eastern front and precipitated the Italian armistice. With regard to strategic bombing, the Peenemunde and Ploesti raids in August 1943 were just as important as the attack on Hamburg.

I’ve summarised the movements of 18 selected Gruppen below. Notice that several of these units moved to from the East to the Mediterranean and only then to the Western front. Several units were formed for air defence tasks in spring, so the crisis was being felt even before the summer:

1943 Gruppen:
I./JG27 Mediterranean (11.42) to West (1.43)
I./JG3 East to West 2.43
I./JG11 formed West 4.43
II./JG11 formed West 4.43
III./JG11 formed West 5.43
IV./JG3 formed West 6.43
II./JG3 East to West 8.43
III./JG3 East to West 8.43
II./JG27 East (7.41) to Mediterranean (9.41); Mediterranean to West 8.43
II./JG53 East (10.41) to Mediterranean (12.41); Mediterranean to West 10.43
III./JG77 East to Mediterranean 10.42; Mediterranean to Romania 11.43

1944 Gruppen:
III./JG27 East (10.41) to Mediterranean (12.41); Mediterranean to West 3.44
IV./JG27 formed Mediterranean 5.43; Mediterranean to West 4.44
I./JG53 East to Mediterranean 10.42; Mediterranean to Romania 5.44
III./JG53 East (10.41) to Mediterranean (11.41); Mediterranean to West 6.44
I./JG77 East to Mediterranean 7.42; Mediterranean to West 8.44
II./JG77 East (11.42) to Mediterranean (12.42); Mediterranean to West 8.44
IV./JG53 formed West 10.44

Regards,

Paul