Luftwaffe losses over the Channel 9 August 1941

[keith A]

I have always been surprised by the RAF claims on this date. They believe that eighteen enemy fighters were destroyed and at least the same number seriously damaged. However the two Luftwaffe fighter groups JG2 and JG26 suffered no such losses. My understanding is that these groups flew Bf109 with yellow spinners. However Neville Duke in his combat report of that day reports his enemies as having black/white spinners.

K

[keith A]

Apologies... he probably encountered JG2.

https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109F/...ne-1941-0A.jpg

[Chris Goss]

I would never go on spinner colours as an indication of unit. I and II./JG 26 each lost a Bf 109 on this date while Fighter Command claimed 23 destroyed, 11 probables and 9 damaged. JG 26 claimed 14 while JG 2 claimed nothing and lost nothing

[keith A]

It just seems very odd. Almost like the RAF units had some form of hysterical reaction to the Luftwaffe attacks. I know that overclaiming was a problem but this appears to be one of the worst, if not the worst instance of this.

[Chris Goss]

Agreed! Any post-mission analysis would have revealed this. 16 Aug 40 is another good example of RAF over-optimism