Clarification on how Luftwaffe losse are catgorized

[Nick Beale]

I would expect that to be classed as an ‘(F)’ in the casualty reports because the purpose was a Feindflug or flight against the enemy, even if it was not completed.

For numbers of sorties the usual way the Luftwaffe reported was in two parts, e.g.: ‘KG 3: 20 He 111 of which 1 broke off (crash on take-off)’. In the same way the number starting would be given but then they would say how many turned back with technical problems or did not locate the target.