Analysis

At 13.00 hours GMT on 10 March 1944 (14.00 hours local), I./JG 2 reported on its achievements and losses over 12 operational days. The Gruppe had probably become operational under Fliegerführer Luftflotte 2 on the morning of 26 February, the day after its move to Castiglione del Lago, so the report probably covers the period up to and including 8 March.

CLAIMS, LOSSES AND STATISTICS

As disclosed by an intercepted signal. Notes 1), 2) and 3) were added by British intelligence analysts.

Final report, I./JG 2.
1) (+)	12 operational days, 11 operations with 110 Fw 190 and 24 Bf 109.
2)	Actual strength of a/c on monthly average:					30
	Percentage of a/c serviceable:					60
3)	Successes certain:		4 Spitfires, 3 Thunderbolts, 2 Kittyhawks, 5 Liberators, 1 Dragonfly.
	Probable:		2 Spitfires, 1 Thunderbolt, 2 Kittyhawks, 4 Liberators.
4)	Expenditure of ammunition:			4000		7.9 mm.
				3600		13 mm.
				6000		2 cm. el. 151
				400		2 cm. mech. 151
	By enemy actions:			4000		7.9 mm.
				1800		13 mm.
				1380		2 cm. mech. 151
5)	Casualties	A)	killed in action			3
		B)	missing			1
		C)	wounded			2
6)	A/c lost		Total			11
	A)		By enemy action			7	99%
	B)		(++)				0%
	C)		Technical defects			1	75%
	D)		Faults in (B% servicing)			1	25%
	E)		Other reasons			2	25%
7)	Parachute descents (B% safe)				3	with enemy action
NOTE:
1)	(+) As (Roman) I JG 2 arrived at Castiglione on 25/2, (T109/32 and notes) above return would appear to cover the 12 days prior to 10/3 rather than the month of February.
2)	Interpolations based on information given in CX/MSS/R117/(B)/2.
3)	(++) This sub-para not included in original pro-forma probably stand [sic] for enemy action by ground defence.

Pilots

Over the period in question, this article has identified four airmen dead and two wounded. If the missing pilot was later found to have been killed, the overall totals match. Only one pilot, who was also wounded, is identified as having baled out. However the statistics above are for safe bale-outs (presumably ones where the pilot was unhurt) which seems to leave all three unaccounted for.

Aircraft

Six aircraft have been identified as lost in action plus one crash landed at base after combat, equating to the report's seven losses to enemy action. This leaves four losses to other causes of which no details have yet emerged. If any of these accidents occurred in flight, one or more may be associated with the safe bale-outs mentioned above.

Claims

The claims made in the report exceed the number subsequently acknowledged by higher authority (according to the surviving records). These recognised victories were, in their turn, greater than the losses actually suffered by the Allies in combats involving I./JG 2:

Claimed	Recognised	Actual
4 Spitfires + 2 probables	7 Spitfires	2 Spitfires
3 Thunderbolts + 1 probable	4 P-47s	4 P-47s
2 Kittyhawks + 2 probables	1 Kittyhawk	1 Kittyhawk
5 Liberators + 4 probables	5 B-24s	4 B-24s
1 Dragonfly	1 Dragonfly	1 Auster

For the three days of combat in question (29 February, 3 and 7 March 1944) I./JG 2's claims were notably optimistic but the Luftwaffe’s recognition procedures seem to have been effective in identifying the real successes amongst them except, for some reason, where Spitfires were concerned.