Question about Bodenplatte book

[Jochen Prien]

Dear John,

the strength returns referred to the status at the end of the day, i.e. after the days operations were over. As for 1 January 1945 I know from several Units that the Ground Crew had to work extra shifts to get as many a/c Ready for the New Year Operation so that a number of those listed as u/s in the evening were ready the next morning. A/c ferried in during the day may not already have been officially taken on strength when the strength return was filed and therefore didn't appear on the list but were nevertheless flown on 1 January 1945, but this is only an assumption.

Best

Jochen

[John Manrho]

Dear Jochen,

Many thanks for the information. Must be at 18.00 hours, just like many Lfl.6 Strength Reports. This means that at least II./JG 26 received several a/c ferried in. Their total strength was 39 a/c and they flew the mission with 44 a/c. We know a FlüG pilot flew a 7./JG 26 a/c and was killed on 1.1.1945.

Regards,

John