Just floopped in front of “battle stations” on th History channel about the Mosquito. During the early “blurb”, miracle of wooden design etc etc, the narrator claimed that Luftwaffe pilots were granted two “Kills” if they shot one down. I know these general documentaries do have some sweeping comments, stereotypes etc, but this one was new to me – any takers or comments on if its true?
By: Firebird - 17th April 2008 at 13:04
This subject really is a mindfield:confused: What I understand from what I read some time ago, is that “kills” counted differently for the award of decorations, not that aircraft X shot down would get two(or more) victory markings on the tail of the victor. As I understand it, for example, a shot down heavy bomber would count as 4 kills for the award of automatic decorations based on victories. The “tally” of the pilot for aircraft shot down would remain as 1 for every aircraft shot down.
If someone knows better, please correct me.
That about sums it up from what I understand as well.
The ‘points’ system was a constantly moving set of goal posts though as the war progressed.
By: JägerMarty - 17th April 2008 at 09:37
I’m reading Martin Middlebrook’s book about the disasterous raid on Nürnberg in march 1944 and he mentions 2 kills being awarded for a Mossie, I wonder where he got this from.
It was first published in 1975.
By: DCK - 12th April 2008 at 10:22
I heard the same thing, I think it was from the Mosquito at War DVD I bought. They said that the Mosquito was so fast and so hard to get, they granted a pilot 2 kills if they got one of them.
By: Mondariz - 12th April 2008 at 06:42
It would have been funny, if they had a mindboggingly complex “kill algorithm”. Where aircraft performance and pilot skill was used in calulations.
Bf-109E vs Boulton Paul Defiant = 0.43 Kill in daytime and 0.67 for night.
Then add the pilots “handicap”.
Adolf Galland handicap = -0.15
For killing one Defiant. 0.43 + (-0.15) = 0.28 Kill.
It actually sounds like something my government would introduce.
By: JDK - 12th April 2008 at 01:50
Coincidentally, I came across the same statement in Martin Bowman’s The Royal Air Force At War, attributed to a British newspaper report.
In other words, it’s almost certainly a British propaganda story.
By: sam - 12th April 2008 at 01:03
They also managed to use footage of a Manchester whilst discussing the Lancaster bomber stream and sneaked in film of a Sea Hornet landing on a carrier whilst discussing the versatility of the Mosquito.
By: mhuxt - 12th April 2008 at 00:03
Yes, it’s an enduring myth.
A kill was a kill.
There was a “points” system I believe, but I don’t pretend to understand it.
By: galdri - 11th April 2008 at 23:49
This subject really is a mindfield:confused: What I understand from what I read some time ago, is that “kills” counted differently for the award of decorations, not that aircraft X shot down would get two(or more) victory markings on the tail of the victor. As I understand it, for example, a shot down heavy bomber would count as 4 kills for the award of automatic decorations based on victories. The “tally” of the pilot for aircraft shot down would remain as 1 for every aircraft shot down.
If someone knows better, please correct me.
By: Creaking Door - 11th April 2008 at 23:28
Didn’t the Luftwaffe operate some sort of ‘points’ system for decorations? I think this extended to kills on the Eastern Front being worth less than kills over Europe and may have even included different aircraft types.
By: JägerMarty - 11th April 2008 at 23:07
More bullscheiß from the history channel:rolleyes:
By: flyernzl - 11th April 2008 at 21:58
Well it’s got two engines, eh.
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April 11, 2008 at 7:28 pm