Greatest Losses during War?

Hello,

I am trying to determine the period of the war when the greatest number of airman were lost from all causes. I have read about 'Bloody April', and 'Black September', but I really haven't done any research regarding the total losses for each period.

Because this seems like a monumental task, I was hoping (and praying!) that someone has determined this in the past. Anyone have a clue? I would think that the greatest loss of airman was during the summer of 1918, but I would like to know for sure.

regards,

Darren

[De Petrowski Alexander]

It has to be in 1918, for the simple reason that by far the most air battles were fought by the ever expanding Air Forces during the last year of the war, the number of Airmen available on both sides in april 1917 was but a fraction of the number available during september 1918

[Soderbaum]

Hi

For the German Air Force it was Apr and May 1918, which was the worst months* during the War...then it changed to the "better" again and this was NOT only because of the DVII effect...

*in absolute numbers

As Alexander indicates, if you compare to some "base", like total amount of a/c available on the Front the answer could perhaps be different..

If you are looking for some sort of victory/loss ratio, probably the first 12 months of the War was a "disaster" for the German Air Force, when they were hopelessy outclassed by the French...


Gunnar

Thank you Alexander and Soderbaum for your feedback, it helps immensely

Bloody April was so named because of the high proportion of casualties sustained - and the unrpecednted rate of losses - compared to the number of aircraft/pilots available. Perhaps also because of an apparent or perceived imbalance between the British and German losses.
The numbers of aircraft and aircrew lost in 1916-late 1917 were a tiny fraction of those operational in early to mid 1918. In mid 1918 the numbers of aircraft and aircrew dwarfed those of mid 1917. By the end of 1918 the numbers were colossal. In 1918 some aerial combats were reported to number dozens and scores of aircraft on each sides - casualties are inevtiably higher when more people are involved!
Aerial combat was only one way of many to sustain casualties - ground attack operations increased substantially in 1918, as did long-range bombing operations, naval cooperation, home defence etc. These kinds of oeprations have a different probability of casualties being sustained than combat patrols or over-the-lines army cooperation.
Likewise, aircraft and aircrew were prone to catastrophic mechanical failures. "Pilot error" losses and other non-combat losses were substantial at all times. I have no data but I suspect that early war casualties may have had a much higher proportion of non-combat losses than occurred later in the war. Anybody have any facts to support or reject this view?
Another factor - in the earlier period of 1916 to mid-18917 the proportion of fighting/Jasta units to army cooperation/"working" units was low. I estimate (and am open to correction) that in 1916 far less than a quarter of units were deliberately intended to gain what is now called air supremacy by engaging enemy aircraft. By the end of the war I am sure it it was well over 50% for front-line units on active the Western Front. In the early days a small number of fighting aircraft going out deliberately to bring down opponents could have a disproportionately high effect (viz the so-called "Fokker scourage" featured a tiny number of aircraft compared to later air fleets). Larger groups like "Richthofen's Circus" could have a disproportionate lcoal effect by bringing temporary air superiority to whichever sector it was posted. The allocation of the RNAS scouts units to the Western Front also had a powerful localised effect.
By the last few months of the war ever larger fleets of Allied aircraft were able to sweep the skies to achieve air superiority and inflict shattering losses. The more fighter planes the more losses, it's a mathematical truism.

[RED BARON RETURNS]

Really I Would Have To Say Bloody April Was At A Higher Rate But Like One Said Before They Had More Pilots And Planes In Sept 1918 So It's A Real Close Call To See The Total Amount Of Casualties On Both Sides.
Later Days
Jep
Red Baron

[Immo_Frese]

Originally Posted by wingedwarrior

Hello,

I am trying to determine the period of the war when the greatest number of airman were lost from all causes...I would think that the greatest loss of airman was during the summer of 1918, but I would like to know for sure.

Hi Darren,

the german casualty lists are far away from being complete. It would be interesting to do some research regarding the casualties caused by the influenza from August 1918 to November 1918...

Immo

[RED BARON RETURNS]

Originally Posted by Immo_Frese

Hi Darren,

the german casualty lists are far away from being complete. It would be interesting to do some research regarding the casualties caused by the influenza from August 1918 to November 1918...

Immo

SO TRUE THE INFLUENZA OF 1918 WAS VERY BAD THAT YEAR TOO.I WAS JUST READING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT WHERE ONE OF MVR PILOTS OR FRIENDS DIED FROM IT.
LATER DAYS
JEP
RED BARON

There's a monument to the casualties of the flu epidemic of 1918. The place, Camp Merritt, N. J. where over 500 died . I spoke to one occupant of that camp and he said they would take the casualties out at night so as not to panic the people living in the nearby towns. The monument stands in the exact center of where the camp once stood.

[frontflieger]

Originally Posted by RED BARON RETURNS

SO TRUE THE INFLUENZA OF 1918 WAS VERY BAD THAT YEAR TOO.I WAS JUST READING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT WHERE ONE OF MVR PILOTS DIED FROM IT.
LATER DAYS
JEP
RED BARON

Otto Bernert was a casulty of the INFLUENZA

(I mean: he was not a MvR-man... but a famous fighter!)
Thorsten