Latest from Michael Balss.

[robert]

Hi,

I just looked at details of part of losses suffered on 1.9.39 over Poland - the quality of research is disappointing.

Regards

Robert

[edwest2]

I work in book publishing. The Amazon owned company pays a royalty that is just below half the price of the book. Similar to the 50% from a wholesale book distributor. A large press run is not required.




Ed

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by robert

Hi,

I just looked at details of part of losses suffered on 1.9.39 over Poland - the quality of research is disappointing.

Regards

Robert

In what way Robert?

Cheers
Stig

[robert]

Hi,

typos, lack of airmen names, wrong village names etc.

Regards

Robert

[chinesefox]

Originally Posted by robert

Hi,

typos, lack of airmen names, wrong village names etc.

Regards

Robert

Hi

I knew the issue of 'lack of airmen names' before I purchased vol 1(I glanced through the preview pages before I place the order)

Didn't aware of typos & wrong village names.

Are there many typos & errors such as' wrong village names' in Vol 1?

thank you

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by robert

Hi,

typos, lack of airmen names, wrong village names etc.

Regards

Robert

Thanks Robert

I can only presume that much of that is as it was taken from his original sources. I cannot fancy either GQM or NVM to bend over backwards to get Polish names right for example. Maybe he never found any Polish citizen who wanted to help him....perhaps he never tried.....

Lack of names is more puzzling, but some of the returns are extremely hard to read....

Typos unfortunately is something we all have to live with.

Cheers
Stig

[Alfred.MONZAT]

From what I've heard his previous works and his database were know for these typos and errors (some also mentioned dubious sources), that's why I didn't buy his database at $65 last year. So I will not buy 2000€ of books just for a translation (?).

[Doug Stankey]

Having just completed digesting the "Deutsche Luftwaffe Losses & Claims" Part 28 by Michael Balss, I feel the need to give it an evaluation.

While this is a very spare looking production, it does concentrate on what is important; the essential facts regarding Losses and Claims. Balss has attempted to gather what data he could find from all sources and it appears that he has done a reasonable job of that for this difficult period. He covers all unit types (JG, KG, St.G., Aufkl.Gr., TG, etc.) but deals only in flying units. No Flak, Ln. or other.

Whether or not it is "worth it" at $(Can) 65 per volume (from Amazon) is debatable depending on your needs. But I feel that it is worthwhile for us if only because it helps fill many gaps and because this is a very limited production run of a specialized work.

The Losses are most informative, attempting to cover all the losses. This has cleared up a number of mysteries. It has added some "new guys", but not a huge number.
The Claims data has also yielded some new guys, but not many. This area is dull by comparison to the Losses data.

Regarding missing names - there are few missing first names - presumeably due to source data limitations. Coverage of this series apparently skips prewar period. While I am sure that there numerous deficiencies, these appear to be quite minor in the grand scheme.

My overall impression is essentially positive, but naturally one wishes for more detail, but this would be carping in view of the massive effort to compile all this. I think that Michael Balss has done the Lutwaffe enthusiast community a great service and deserves a thank you.

Doug Stankey,
Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries editor.

[srob48]

Hi,

I'm really enjoying the Deutsche Luftwaffe Losses & Claims series by Michael Balss. So far I have:
Part 3 - 1st June to 31st August 1940.
Part 4-I - 1st September to 15th October 1940.
Part 4-II - 16th October to 31st December 1940.
And I have:
Part 5 - 1st January to 31st March 1941 arriving any day.

Michael says he is working on Part 6 (April - May 1941) which should be available soon.

He says, "Basic sources for my data are the German GQM files and also the 'Namentliche Verlustmeldungen' = Loss report of a unit for a plane and crew.

About the names of the locations "I used the names from the original sources".

As I check through the data, I am finding a few anomalies. For instance: Michael lists the loss of 8/JG26 on 1st June 1940, Lt. Kuno Wendt FSA/POW. according to Prien, the pilot was Lt. Gustav Sprick.
Also, Michael lists the loss of KGr.zbV.107 as occurring on 1st June 1940. Shot down by RAF Blenheim in Norway, with the pilot Uffz G. Werkmeister KIA, and 3 crew KIA names not reported. However, the pilot Uffz. Gerhard Werkmeister died on 30th May 1940 and is buried in Oslo-Alfaset, Norway.
(I can't check the dates of the other 3 KIA as names unknown).

Would be good if we could have a Michael Balss "Corrections" thread on here to try to sort out any inconsistencies?

My overall opinion is that the books are worth the money and Michael has done a lot of work. I wish him all the best.