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Nov 21, 2018 · Many vehicles, aircraft, and ships were sold for scrap, being stripped of valuable parts and being melted down as metals like aluminum could be re-used. The numbers involved were truly staggering. Between 1945 to 1946, around 5,500 aircraft were scrapped at Kingman Air Force Base in Arizona alone.
- Video
- Intro
- Initial Situation
- Doctrinal Failure – Missing Fleet Air Arm
- Failures in Logistics and Support Planning
- Mismanagement of Aircraft Production
- Failure to Support Coalition Air Forces
- Training – Failure
- Conclusion
- Notes
Note the following is the script for the video NOT an article, furthermore it might be a bit different to due last minute changes. There is usually also a bit more detail in the script. The script is a summary of James S. Corum’s Article: Defeat of the Luftwaffe (see sources below).
The German Air Force the so called Luftwaffe was created in 1935 yet at the beginning of the Second World War it was one of the best air forces in the world. Yet, this radically changed within just a few years. Let’s take a look at the initial situation and at the various shortcoming that ultimately lead to its demise.
In 1939 and 1940 the Luftwaffe fielded some of the best air planes of its type notably the Bf 109 fighter that could only be matched by the British Spitfire. The medium bombers Do 17, Ju 88 and He 111 were also good if not great aircraft. Furthermore, the Luftwaffe possessed 500 transport planes and thus the largest air transport force in the world...
The first major shortcoming, was the lack of a fleet air arm. Since the commander in chief of the Luftwaffe Göring insisted that all planes are part of his Luftwaffe, the German Navy was dependent on his willingness to provide proper resources. The Battle of Britain should have not been fought over British air fields, but over British ports and the...
The next major shortcoming was in logistics. The logistical system of the German Air Force was focused on short campaigns. Due to the short effective range of most single engine planes the Air Force usually moved rapidly behind the army and used captured air fields for operations. Usually an air field company could ready such an airfield in about 2...
Another major problem was the mismanagement of aircraft design, development and production. Germany’s aircraft industry was in excellent condition in the late 1930s. During the first stage of the rearmament only mediocre planes were produced, but the second stage saw already the very successful designs of the He111, Do17, Ju87 and especially the fa...
The next problem was the reluctance of Germany to provide proper support for their small yet numerous allies like Finland, Hungary, Italy and Romania. This was in clear contrast to the Western Allies, who managed to support and thus use its allies in an effective way. Germany often denied providing licenses for planes or engines to several of its a...
The last and greatest failure of the Luftwaffe leadership, was its inability to develop a proper training System. In the beginning of the war Luftwaffe pilots were well trained and some also had combat experience from the Spanish Civil War. Although Britain initially sent its pilots into combat with less training than the Luftwaffe, the RAF early o...
To conclude although the Luftwaffe after 1941 fought against increasing odds, its own leadership was responsible for clipping its wings. Although Göring was crucial for the fast rise of the Luftwaffe, he also laid the foundation for its fall by appointing unsuited friends, ignoring the demands of the Navy and demoting highly capable officers to uni...
The video a summary of the article listed in the sources. Except for the numbers of sunk ships by German submarines this information is from the listed website. Note that this number also includes damaged ships, I summed up the values for each month.
People also ask
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- North American Aviation made some of the most iconic aircraft of all time. Estimated total aircraft built (top 30): 41,065. North American P-51 Mustang (Country: the United States, Role: Fighter, Production Date Range: 1940-1951, Estimated Total Built: 15,586)
- Ilyushin was one of the most prolific aircraft builders of the war. Estimated total aircraft built (top 30): 36,183. – Ilyushin Il-2 (Country: the Soviet Union, Role: Ground-attack, Production Date Range: 1941-1945, Estimated Total Built: 36,183)
- Messerschmitt is probably the best-known aircraft manufacturer of WW2. Estimated total aircraft built (top 30): 34,852. – Messerschmitt Bf 109 (Country: Germany, Role: Fighter, Production Date Range: 1936-1958, Estimated Total Built: 34,852)
- Supermarine made the iconic Spitfire, among many other planes. Estimated total aircraft built (top 30): 22,685. – Supermarine Spitfire/Seafire (Country: the United Kingdom, Role: Fighter, Production Date Range: 1938-1948, Estimated Total Built: 22,685)
The Strategic Air Command was basically the same Twentieth Air Force from Guam that LeMay had commanded during the war. It was a natural transition, since it was the only military organization on earth with previous nuclear experience, having dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Jan 26, 2024 · Summary. Masters of the Air, produced by Spielberg and Hanks, offers a captivating and emotional portrayal of the 100th Bomb Group's experiences during WWII. There are 4 surviving members of the 100th Bomb Group still alive as of February 2024.
- Movie & TV Features Writer
Feb 4, 2024 · The bombing raid on 17 August 1943 saw the Eighth Air Force attempt a double strike against two German targets in what is now referred to as the Regensburg-Schweinfurt raid. Airmen had hoped...
In the Battle of Britain, Polish pilots serving in all RAF squadrons achieved a remarkable score of 203.5 destroyed, 35 probables and 36 damaged. Other sources give 131 kills as there is generally variation in figures for claimed 'kills' - the entire RAF score was lowered from 2,692 to 1,733 aircraft destroyed due to the discrepancy between ...
