Until 1941 there was no real shortage of pilots and Germany looked to be in good shape, but by 1942 this had changed dramatically. Pilot losses were now far exceeding replacement numbers. Planning seemed to have neglected to account for this. The Luftwaffe had to shorten pilot training and provide replacements to existing units. Instructors and more advanced students were sent to make up the difference, thus disrupting training.
By 1943 the need for pilots, and especially for fighters, was obvious. Unneeded transport and bomber pilots were 'cross-trained' briefly on fighters and sent forward. With even less training, losses began to mount.
By 1944 the situation was bleak. Fuel was in short supply. The Luftwaffe would only send up huge numbers of aircraft, or none at all. One comment about the D-Day invasion was the amazing air battle - amazing because it never took place - since the Luftwaffe had essentially conceded the skies at that point.
Someone suggesting the same:
emphasis mineLord Zuckerman wrote:But in any event, there was surely little chance by the critical last quarter of 1944 of a significant resurgence of a Luftwaffe fighter defense. German fighters were still being produced in quantity, but there was a major shortage of pilots, fuel, and training time, and by then what was left of Hitler's air forces had more than enough on their hands in helping to stem the Russian advance.
The documentary did feature an interesting interview with a German fighter pilot at the time who mentioned the 'green pilots' being strapped in and sent off, never to return. And there was the 'morale boost' in the form of berating by Goering and Hitler for not being braver in the face of the Allied invasion...
