HC Deb 21 August 1940 vol 364 cc1287-8
23. Mr. Watkins

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the wide disparity between the British and German accounts of losses in air battles, he will state the methods used for checking and verifying our figures, in order that public confidence in the British announcements may be maintained?

Sir A. Sinclair

The casualties caused to enemy aircraft are classified under the three main headings of "Certainly Destroyed," "Probably Destroyed," and "Damaged." An enemy aircraft is deemed to have been certainly destroyed if it has been seen to hit the ground or sea, to break up in the air or to descend in flames. An enemy aircraft is counted as probably destroyed if it has been seen to break off combat in circumstances that lead to the conclusion that it must become a loss. The third category includes cases in which the enemy aircraft was considerably damaged, for example, its undercarriage had dropped, its engines had stopped or parts of the aircraft had been shot away.

On returning from combat, our pilots are interrogated by the Station Intelligence Officer. When reports from all of them have been received, the Intelligence Officer again interrogates the pilots concerned in cases where any doubt exists. The numbers of enemy aircraft in each of the three categories are then transmitted by each squadron to its Group Headquarters, and from there through Fighter Command Headquarters to the Air Ministry. Only enemy aircraft in the first category are included in official communiqués.

There is a strict instruction to pilots to exercise the utmost discretion in reporting. They are, in fact, on their honour, and the honour of their squadron as well as that of the Royal Air Force is involved. It can be asserted with confidence that the reports of our pilots tend to err on the side of understatement. It is known that enemy aircraft in the second and third categories frequently fail to reach home, and no credit is taken for the losses inflicted on the enemy by those of our pilots who do not return. On several occasions during the last fortnight the total of enemy aircraft in the second and third categories has exceeded that in the first, and independent persons who have had access to the detailed figures have been impressed by the reserve with which the published total is assessed.

Mr. Watkins

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his clear and careful answer will give very great satisfaction throughout the country; and will he agree that we may tell everybody who is conscious of the disparity between British and German figures that we may dismiss the German figures as being mere propaganda?

Sir A. Sinclair

I think the hon. Member can safely say that, and that, if it was the fact that the Germans had shot down 878 machines of ours since 8th August, we should not be meeting here in such happy circumstances.

Mr. Lawson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the people of this country are so proud of the Royal Air Force that they have always been satisfied that our figures are correct?