Hartmann: claims vs. victories

[Nick Beale]

I know this is my answer to everything, but I recommend reading the DEFE 3 series ULTRA (it’s all online) for, say, July to November 1942. You will find numerous reports of the damage inflicted by bombing on troops and supplies. The night bombing of Tobruk and other ports did, on occasion, inflict massive damage and the Axis supply situation was on a knife-edge throughout the period. There was talk of getting JG 27 pilots to fly at night in defence of the ports but that went nowhere. You will also find much about the critical loss of the tanker Tergestea off Tobruk, in the opening stages of Second Alamein. She was bombed and torpedoed within sight of shore and in daylight. The Navy complained that fighter escort would have prevented this (a couple of LG 1 Ju 88s were assigned instead).

On the other hand, the HW 5 series ULTRA (not online) includes regular updates on the latest scores of JG 27’s pilots and their cumulative totals. It is also clear just how much the Germans had invested in Marseille’s prowess, presumably as an inspiring example to others.