By 1944 new German pilots were averaging 120 hours flying time in training. About 20 of this was on operational types. Fuel shortages accounted for part of the problem. Weather, shortages of instructors, lack of suitable aircraft, etc. also played a role.
In many classes, as many as 50% of the pilots in training became casualities through crashes and accidents due to their rushed training. This certainly didn't help things along.
Even the graduates only had the most rudimentary flying skills. None could navigate (that is why Bodenplatte required pathfinder bombers to lead the fighters to their targets and, even then many fighters got lost enroute or returning to base), few could execute any aerobatic maneuvers beyond the basics. The classes did turn out fairly large numbers but, the product was "erstaz" at best. That is, shoddy and nearly worthless.
It is worth noting that virtually all of Germany's surviving top aces in 1944 became operational pilots before 1942.

By 1944 new German pilots were averaging 120 hours flying time in training. About 20 of this was on operational types. Fuel shortages accounted for part of the problem. Weather, shortages of instructors, lack of suitable aircraft, etc. also played a role.
In many classes, as many as 50% of the pilots in training became casualities through crashes and accidents due to their rushed training. This certainly didn't help things along.
Even the graduates only had the most rudimentary flying skills. None could navigate (that is why Bodenplatte required pathfinder bombers to lead the fighters to their targets and, even then many fighters got lost enroute or returning to base), few could execute any aerobatic maneuvers beyond the basics. The classes did turn out fairly large numbers but, the product was "erstaz" at best. That is, shoddy and nearly worthless.
It is worth noting that virtually all of Germany's surviving top aces in 1944 became operational pilots before 1942.

120 hours seems alot, considering the Brits had to make do with eight or nine hours in a spitfire before joining the battle of britain

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"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.

Thank you, Erich and T.A.

I now understand this much better! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I now expect not to forget it... [img]graemlins/no.gif[/img]

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

I think it was in Galland´s book ( or maybe I recall wrong but anyway ) that many German fighter planes were lost in the east due to Hitler´s order not to retreat in time and many planes were lost for nothing as Russians either got the planes by taking the air fields or could destroy them by artillery/ planes.

This has been something of a puzzling question to me as I have never seen any true figures for this. ANyone seen any?

This relates to the question as Hitler´s orders might have made Göring´s promises already useless.

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I think it was in Galland´s book ( or maybe I recall wrong but anyway ) that many German fighter planes were lost in the east due to Hitler´s order not to retreat in time and many planes were lost for nothing as Russians either got the planes by taking the air fields or could destroy them by artillery.

This has been something of a puzzling question to me as I have never seen any true figures for this. ANyone seen any?

This relates to the question as Hitler´s orders might have made Göring´s promises already useless.

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I think it was in Galland´s book ( or maybe I recall wrong but anyway ) that many German fighter planes were lost in the east due to Hitler´s order not to retreat in time and many planes were lost for nothing as Russians either got the planes by taking the air fields or could destroy them by artillery/ planes.

This has been something of a puzzling question to me as I have never seen any true figures for this. ANyone seen any?

This relates to the question as Hitler´s orders might have made Göring´s promises already useless.

__________________

I think it was in Galland´s book that many German fighter planes were lost in the east due to Hitler´s order not to retreat in time and many planes were lost for nothing as Russians either got the planes by taking the air fields or could destroy them by artillery.

This has been something of a puzzling question to me as I have never seen any true figures for this. ANyone seen any?

This relates to the question as Hitler´s orders might have made Göring´s promises already useless.

__________________

I think it was in Galland´s book that many German fighter planes were lost in the east due to Hitler´s order not to retreat in time and many planes were lost for nothing as Russians either got the planes by taking the air fields or could destroy them by artillery.

This has been something of a puzzling question to me as I have never seen any true figures for this. ANyone seen any?

This relates to the question as Hitler´s orders might have made Göring´s promises already useless.

__________________

I think it was in Galland´s book that many German fighter planes were lost in the east due to Hitler´s order not to retreat in time and many planes were lost for nothing as Russians either got the planes by taking the air fields or could destroy them by artillery.

This has been something of a puzzling question to me as I have never seen any true figures for this. Anyone seen any?

This relates to the question as Hitler´s orders might have made Göring´s promises already useless.

__________________

I think it was in Galland´s book that many German fighter planes were lost in the east due to Hitler´s order not to retreat in time and many planes were lost for nothing as Russians either got the planes by taking the air fields or could destroy them by artillery.

This has been something of a puzzling question to me as I have never seen any true figures for this. Anyone seen any?

This relates to the question as Hitler´s orders might have made Göring´s promises already useless.

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Fuel was a real problem. It was Barkhorn I believe who took a whole complement of D-9's, but had no gas. Yes the kugelblitz & other UFO projects supplied to the nazis by the Grey aliens was the answer as they were not fossil fuel machines. Anti gravity etc, actually they did pursue this technology further after the war in underground mtns in south america & at the secret base in Antarctica, Mew Scwabenland.In the last days of the war some German & Japanese volunteers went to the moon with some of these ufo's & greeted the US astronauts in 69 when they landed. So you see, the Germans actually did win the war after all. Just kidding. is humor allowed here?

Sure thign Chromeboomerang,

Humour is allowed just as long as we don´t mix you with the guys who really believe those things you mentioned...and there are those guys!

[img]graemlins/no.gif[/img]

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Yes I know. A different forum would be in order for that. Makes good sci-fi if nothing else. Feu fighters are somewhat interesting, but pretty hard to pin down.