Well, the funny thing is that nobody seems to agree wether the figures I am quoting are the ones for the pursuit squadrons or includes also the 2-seater squadrons.
I found digging in the archives this quote from Chapter 8 of some official history but the link to it was broken
Quote:
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11. American air squadrons played important roles in the battles of Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne. They brought down in combat 755 enemy planes, while their own losses of planes numbered only 357.
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So back to the original topic, what was the size and frontline strength of the American air corps?
Also, another thing to ponder, most American airplanes were French built
Just before hitting the submit button I recalled Hoeppner mentioned something. Let's see:
Germany's war in the air, p.156:
Quote:
Our attack in Flanders now came to an end. The German Army assumed the defensive. Aviation was to find the struggle far more severe than in 1917. The help from America was making itself felt later than we had expected. There were serious difficulties in the American aircraft industry which were not adjusted before the summer of 1918. By the end of June, the first American units made their appearance, and they paid dearly for their early entry into action. According to unofficial figures, American air units lost 902 killed in action, of which 3 were killed in March, 118 in July, 514 in November (11 days of fighting). When the Armistice was agreed upon they had in France 20 Pursuit Squadrons, 18 Observation Squadrons, and 7 Bombardment Squadrons, with only 667 planes at the front. In all, 7900 planes were brought up to the front, of which 4,000 were made in America. These figures speak eloquently as to the heavy losses suffered by the American aviators during the concluding period of the war.
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Remarks:
514 in November (11 days of fighting)
That can't be right, surely he meant Black Setpember
only 667 planes at the front.
I think he meant that the american units were depleted by the casualties in the autumn fighting and replacements in airplanes and crews couldn't keep up, wich contradicts the following
In all, 7900 planes were brought up to the front,
I think he meant that was the total Allied strength on 11 November, outnumbering the weakened German air force by 4 to 1.
Or perhaps he meant airplanes delivered to all Allied air forces.
of which 4,000 were made in America.
Really? I had often read that the contribution of the American aviation industry was negligible beyond some engines due to colossal mismanagement.
If i am not mistaken, American units were equipped with French built airplanes. At least their pursuit squadrons, because the French and British told the Americans to not bother building fighters since they became obsolete in a few months. American squadrons were equipped with Nieuport 28 at first, then replaced with the SPAD and a few squadrons equipped with Sopwith Camel or SE5a.
It seems to me that Hoeppner was looking for an excuse for the defeat and was blaming it on the Allies overwhelming them with numbers thanks to the American industrial might.