Airacobras in Tunisia

[Christer Bergström]

Some interesting statistics regarding the Airacobra in Soviet service:

Combat losses among Airacobras serving with VVS KA:

1941: 0
1942: 49
1943: 305
1944: 486
1945: 190

Combat losses among Airacobras serving with VVS VMF:

Through 21 June 1943: 17
22 June 43 - 21 June -44: 77
22 June - 44 - 4 Sept 1945: 30

(VVS KA = AF of Red Army; VVS VMF = AF of Soviet Navy)

It is interesting to note that while the Soviets recorded around 500 Airacobras lost in combat in 1944, the Luftwaffe meanwhile claimed to have shot down around 900 Airacobras on the Eastern Front. Let's assume that some 400 Airacobras were shot down by Luftwaffe fighters in 1944. I strongly doubt the Airacobras managed to shoot down 400 German fighters in 1944.