A ?? RE: an ace pilot's description of a dogfight:

[drgondog]

Nick - the first observation is that for his statement of "200 P-47s attacking' to be even remotely plausible it means that for some reason four Fighter Groups happend to be in exactly that 1 cubic mile of space, and ALL left the bomber escort duties to attack the LW.

Second, only 4 to 5 P-47 Groups would be involved in trying to provide inbound Penetration Escort (or Withdrawal scort) for 800-1200 bombers. The RAF also provided escort to coast - but nowhere close to Germany.

So, it simply is unreasonable to assume that any attacking force of US P-47s in Oct 1943 through Feb 25, 1944 would number more than 48-50 in one local area.. after that period the odds were less because the LW Avoided Penetration and Withdrawal Support, seeking holes in thin Mustang and Lightning Target Escort from German Border all the way in and back.

The 8th AF never had more than 9 P-47 groups (4th,56th, 78th, 352nd, 353rd, 355th, 356th, 359th and 361st)through January, 1944 and steadily declined after the 4th and 355th converted to Mustangs in Feb/March 1944 - followed quickly by the 352nd in April, then the 359th and 361st in mid May... so only four P-47 Groups remained in mid May, 1944.

Of course some 9th AF Jug Groups occasionally provided escort in Dec 1943-Mar 1944 so there were occasional days of greater strength on Penetration and Withdrawal Support.

Simply didn't happen. Which Sim's account do you believe Eder was referring to and when