German Manpower and Equipment Report by J.I.C.

and more experienced officers, with the result that the fighter formations are seriously short of competent formation leaders. To make good this lack, fighter units not engaged in the defence of the Reich are having to surrender their more experienced pilots. This in turn will cause a decline in the fighting value and morale of the S.E. and T.E. fighter units on the fighting fronts in Russia and in Italy. 9. The poor quality of the bomber pilots and crews resulting from lack of thorough training, still continues, and the inefficiency of the bomber force is likely to increase further and bomber units continue to be called upon to supply pilots and crews for the fighter forces operating in defence of the Reich.