Opinions please (impact Allied fighter bombers on D-day)

[mkenny]

[quote=Klaus Schiffler;36775]

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When I quoted Ritgen, who was in charge of maintenance and repair, he was including both destroyed and damaged vehicles.

The 'report' about the losses was from Fritz Bayerlein and it was made in post war interrogations. It was not made in June 1944. In fact, as Zetterling points out, there is a contemporary report for 10th June stating that losses on the approach march had no significant affect on the combat value of the unit.

A vehicle which is damaged to the degree that it can't be used in combat is no good to the combat troops. It may take one day or a month to repair before it is returned to the fighting troops. He includes both the Sd Kfz 251 and 250 APC and tractors which towed artillery pieces and anti-tank guns.

Pz.Lehr had just under 700 SPW's and 300 tractors. Losing 90 of them, even temporarily, would be a major blow.

HJ lost a total of 83 men on its way to Normandy. Compare that to 26th June when the division lost 730 men in ground combat.
2 PD moved 400 kilometers in 2 days and SS Aufklarungs-Abteilung 17 made 200 kilometers in one day on its way to Normandy.

TAC had an effect but it was not decisive.