Clarification on how Luftwaffe losse are catgorized

[oquaig]

Hi everyone,

Let's say a group of bombers, fully loaded with bombs, is taking off from its home airfield but one of the bombers crashes on take off and the aircraft destroyed. Is this classified as an accident (non combat) loss? Or is it counted as a combat loss while on mission ? Is it classified as a sortie ?

Using the Coventry raid (Nov '41) as an example, I noticed that several aircraft crashed on takeoff or aborted immediately after takeoff. I was wondering how they were counted.


Thanks in advance
oquaig

[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.

[Chris Goss]

Just been looking at just this a KG 51 ac which crashed on take off on ops. Mission was F not H. Coventry was 1940 by the way

[oquaig]

Originally Posted by 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.

Thanks Nick,

I am aware of the (F) and (H) classifications just not certain how they were applied like the Coventry raid where I read '552 crews dispatched but only 449 reach target'. Knowing how it was applied makes it easier to sort them out.

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Coventry was 1940 by the way

I know Chris, I just can't trust my right hand anymore...

Cheers
oquaig