Loss Lists at the Australian War Memorial (AWM)

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:

Denes Bernad
On-line Official Archives
Sun Jun 7 10:04:45 1998


Did anyone of you successfully "penetrate" the official on-line archives of countries, where material on the Luftwaffe might exist?
I searched the Web-pages of the PRO in England and the Bundesarchiv in Germany, but both of them are very sketchy, don't have (or at least I couldn't find) any photos or substantial information available on-line.
Any other web-sites I might try?
Any further thoughts?

Denes

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

Alan Scheckenbach
Other sites
Thu Jun 11 19:55:06 1998

Denes

Try the Australian War Memorial website. A number of interesting photos there.

http://www.awm.gov.au/

Alan

[Richard T Eger]

I visited the AWM website. There are some Luftwaffe related photos, motion picture film, and private records.

Perhaps most interesting though, is that they have a collection of loss records, including some for 1944. Of 39 captured Luftwaffe documents, the following 18 are on Luftwaffe losses:

Luftwaffe Losses - Defence of the Reich (Luftwaffe Befehlshaber Mitte) 1 June - 31 August 1943

Luftwaffe Losses in the Area of Luftflotte Reich, 1 September - 31 December 1943

Luftwaffe Losses in the Area of Luftflotte Reich, January - April 1944

Luftwaffe Losses in the Area of Luftflotte Reich - May 1944, Issued by the Air Ministry AHB6, May 1954

Luftwaffe Losses in the Area of Luftflotte Reich, June 1944

Luftwaffe Losses in the Area of Luftflotte Reich, September 1944

Luftwaffe Losses in the Area of Luftflotte Reich, October - November 1944

Luftwaffe Losses on the Western Front (Luftflotte 3), 1 September - 31 December 1943

Luftwaffe Losses on the Western Front (Luftflotte 3), 1 January - 30 April 1944

Luftwaffe Losses on the Western Front (Luftflotte 3), May 1944

Luftwaffe Losses on the Western Front (Luftflotte 3), June 1944

Luftwaffe Losses on the Western Front (Luftflotte 3), 1 July - 31 August 1944

Luftwaffe Losses on the Western Front (Luftflotte 3) (renamed Luftwaffe Komando West on 20 September 1944), 1 September - 30 November 1944

Luftwaffe Losses on the Eastern Front, 1 September - 31 December 1943

Luftwaffe Losses in Western Norway (Luftflotte 5 West) 1 September - 31 December 1943

Luftwaffe Losses in Norway, (Luftflotte 5 West), 1 July - 30 November 1944

Luftwaffe Losses in the Mediterranean, 1 September - 31 December 1943

Luftwaffe Losses in the Mediterranean (Luftflotte 2 and Luftwaffe Kommando Sud - Ost), 1 July - 30 November 1944

I tried to see what might be in these reports, but the one I attempted this on really gave no insight as to the contents. Whether these are some of the missing 1944 loss lists will have to await someone actually getting their eyes on them or someone knowing what these are up front.

Regards,
Richard

[Richard T Eger]

A couple of folks have sent me notes and asked me how I found the documents noted above on-line. Here's how I found them:

Go to http://www.awm.gov.au/

Click on: Search 200,000 photographs and other collection records

Click on: Official Records

Click on: Record Search

Click on: Click here to begin your search

I registered as a guest.

Key words: Type in Luftwaffe

Click on: Search

39 items found.

Click on: Display

There they are.

Regards,
Richard

[Richard T Eger]

Alan Scheckenbach went to take a look at the noted documents and sent me the following note on 1 Aug. 2000:

Richard,

...I went today at lunchtime and discovered that they are only the summaries. As soon as I saw them I knew it wasn't what you are after. Your e-mails today simply confirmed that.

All you get is, for each day, a series of loss categories (like lost to enemy aircraft and lost due to non-operational causes) across the top and a list of the various types lost on that day down the side and a number in the grid appropriate to how many of that type were lost to what cause. No serial numbers or radio codes. No mention of personnel losses that went with the aircraft. At the 50 cent per page cost I think you'd be up for something like A$130. I don't think it's what you need but then, if no-one else has the info, it might well be worth getting it out into the public arena.

Lots of other stuff that is interesting for me in the folios like the discussion of the battles at the invasion of Sicily and the distribution of AA guns around there but nothing much else for you, unfortunately.

Cheers

Alan

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, all.

With regards to missing loss records:

Several of the documents mentioned above would be of great interest, as some of them are the basis from which the Gen.Qu.Abt.6 lists where produced.

As can be seen on my pages located at:
http://www.stormbirds.com/eagles/

the different Luftflotten reported their individual losses to the "main office" which put it all together in the familiar loss records we know.

I personally can't wait to get my hands on the Luftflotte 5 West document......... http://www.lwag.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

Regards,
Andreas