Air war 1939-45 interesting details

In February 1944 the Luftwaffe lost one-third of its fighters and a fifth of its crews. In March, it lost more than half of its fighter aircraft. In April, 43% were shot down and in May and June loss rate hovered around 50%. Over the first five months of 1944 the Luftwaffe´s entire complement of fighter pilots was either killed or disabled. "

Wages of destruction by Tooze

 

The beginning of the end.....

 

..I wonder how many of those lost in 1944 were experienced .....was it like the Japanese in the Pacific?

 

wonder if those loss rates are Luftwaffes own or claimed kills by the RAF and USAF? Still they managed the Bodenplatte in jan 45 - well even if it was a sort of last stand..
and did the germans try harder in the east in the end? well just some late night thoughts..

 

I do recall that most must have been rookies as the pilot training time was radically shortened due to fuel shortage mostly . Many experienced pilots were Lost as well as also nachtjagd pilots with bf 110 and Ju88 etc were sent as well to fight bombers and the support fighters during daylight.

 

There were a bunch of fighter pilots who made it through the entire war...

"Over the first five months of 1944 the Luftwaffe´s entire complement of fighter pilots was either killed or disabled" - Huh?

 

I think we have a case of imprecise terminology here, losses could have been equal to the establishment in January 1944, but does not account for pilots added from other commands (bombers, Recce, Transport) non -flying postings, returned from medical leave and those graduated from flight training.

 

After WW2 studies showed that 80% of kills were made when one plane made a single pass at another and shot down the enemy plane before their opponent knew what was happening.
To win the Winter sky by Danny Parker.

 

JG54 took part in BoB after arriving in August to Pas de Calais. Between 12 August and 1 December 1940 no fewer than 43 pilots had been reported killed,missing or captured. A casualty rate of close on 40% or the equivalent of more than an entire Gruppe.

JG54 "Grunherz" By John Weal