T-Mo
Looking through German data at my disposal, I would say Jasta pilots flew - weather permitting - two patrols on any ordinary day and three patrols on days of heavy air activity (usually dictated by heavy ground fighting). I',
m not say four patrols a day did not happen but I suspect they were very rare.
One can find usefulk data re
Bloody April:
On 29 Apr 17 - Goering as member of Js 26 flew the following:
1005 - 1130 - duration 1hr 25min then a 3hr 15min break before,
1445 - 1610 - duration 1.25min then 2hr 40 min turn around, and
1850 - 2000 - duration 1hr 10min
All up 3hr 40min of combat flying.
One can find similar for Js 33 pilot on 30 Apr 17; three patrols:
0818 - 0900, then 3hr turn around, 1205-1330, the 6 hr turn around and finally 1905 - 2015 - total combat flying of 3hr 15min.
But as I pointed out above, the good pilot diaries and original Jasta KTB point to two patrols a day weather permitting.
One can also look to patrol summaries:
Jasta 11 for week 1 to 8 June 17 (culminating in Messines battle) saw 118 combat flights, for total of 106hrs which saw 39 combats but only 7 victories at cost of one 'known' downing.
The British experience is much the same for their scout pilots - Squadron Record Book data suggests - weather permitting - two patrols a days on normal days and three patrols on days of heavy ground fighting. But on average the British pilots flew 2hr patrols. However time over the combat area (between 1hr & 1hr 30min) was much the same as
the Jasta pilots, as British pilots often had a longer transitit time to and from the battle area.
For example in Summer & Autumn of 1917 - Polygon Wood was scene of intense ground & air fighting. RFC squadrons of 9 Wing based at Estrees Blanche (56 Sqn, 66 Sqn & 70 Sqn) had to fly quite 54km to Polygon Wood to meet their opposite numbers from JG I, whom based at Marcke onlt had to fly 16km. 1 Sqn based nearer to the front with their Nieuports based at Bailluel had to fly 20km.
However when their backs were to the wall opposing Operation Michael pretty well all British scout pilots and indeed two seater crews flew up to four missions a day - largely the dangerous but decisive Low Bombing missions which so hurt the German advance.
11 pilots of 1 Sqn for example, on 26 Mar 18 first flew 0630 - 0720 from their base in Second Army to the 40 Sqn aerodrome in First Army from where they then flew three bombing missions in the critical Bapaume area; 0850-1050, 1225-1345 & finally out again at 1620. 4AFC at same time flew low missions at 0830, 1120, 1230 & 1515.
The German experience is that the JG's were able to manage 3 missions whilst the workaday Jasta's only 2 missions at this same time & battle front.
Hope this is of use.
Cheers Russ