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

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by drgondog

Oh, I fully agree but Ploesti was only a couple of days after Hamburg firestorm. It was a far more important Political event although Ploesti was a far more serious thrust. Ditto Peenemude,

Bill, we are in broad agreement. I think the tactical operations should be given equal weight with strategic operations in this period, this again is something I have to write about.

Originally Posted by drgondog

Would note that several ZG and JG's moved into Defense of the Reich in fall 1943 and early winter 1944 that are not mentioned above. My previous notation was to reference movements as early as end of Battle of Kursk and near the Hamburg (and Ploesti/Peenemunde) times. II./JG 51 shows up in defense of Stuttgart in early September, for example and I don't see combat ops against 8th AF for JG 1 and JG 11 until July, 1943 (into Bfh Mitte). By August 17 all JG 1, JG2, JG3, JG11, JG 26 plus the ZG and NJG units committed plus I. and II./JG 27.

I agree with all of the above. I have put an updated list at the end of this message, with units that I have added to the list underlined. You will see that a total of 4 Gruppen were withdrawn from the East and Mediterranean even before the battles of Kursk and Sicily. JG 1 and 11 were intercepting allied tactical raids before they joined the strategic defences. Many Luftwaffe units would get caught in between Allied tactical and strategic operations, a famous example being Kurt Brändle and II./JG 3 on 3 November 1943.

Originally Posted by drgondog

The KIA/WIA as a % of the sorties stayed at or below 10% for combined LF Reich and LF 3 through the end of 1943 but nearly doubled in January and February - finally jumping to 16%-25% between March and the end of May, 1944. To me, that is the most important statistic because a.) it coincides with the Mustang operations from January forward and b.) it is the most important of the 'required replacement' numbers that had to be met by LW Training and 'foraging' (from bomber and transport ranks).

The casualties are the most important statistic, of course. I am not sure the jump from 10% to higher levels is that important in the sense that the critical level was below 10%. Allied air forces would probably have curtailed operations if they had suffered such losses.

Originally Posted by drgondog

Another point to ponder regarding loss of experienced pilots is that the WIA/KIA statistics very much reflect the increasing vulnerability of Me 110 and Do 217/Ju 88 crews

Did Don Caldwell include aircrew fatalities in his totals? I don't know, so can't comment, but your point is a valuable one.

Here is the JG list:

1943 Gruppen:
I./JG27 Mediterranean (11.42) to West (1.43)
I./JG3 East to West 2.43
III./JG54 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
I./JG26 West to East 2.43; East to 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./JG51 East (10.42) to Mediterranean (11.42); Mediterranean (7.43) 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:
I./JG5 Norway to Romania (11.43); Romania to West 2.44, redesignated III./JG6 (10.44)
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
II./JG5 East to West (5.44), redesignated IV./JG4 (10.44)
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
II./JG4 formed West 7.44
III./JG4 formed West 7.44
II./JG6 formed East Prussia 7.44, to West 8.44
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
I./JG4 Romania (11.43) to Mediterranean (12.43); Mediterranean to West (8.44)
I./JG6 formed East Prussia 7.44, to West 9.44
IV./JG54 East to Romania 4.44; Romania to East 6.44; East to West 9.44
IV./JG53 formed West 10.44

Regards,

Paul