"WW2 Air-to-Air Combat Exchange Ratios" Topic

I was reading this article link on modern US infantry training and equipment, when I saw this sentence:

"During World War II and the Korean conflict, the "exchange ratio" for American air forces was extremely favorable. The ratio between enemy and friendly killed in air-to-air combat over Europe versus the German Luftwaffe was nine to one and, against Japan, 13 to one. In Korea, against North Korean and Russian pilots, the advantage was also 13 to one. For a time in Vietnam, however, the ratio dropped embarrassingly: In 1967, it approached parity."

This seems unbelievably high for WW2. Does anyone know of any more definitive studies on this? Or where the quoted figures come from? It looks to me like an uncritical acceptance of credited kills, even where the claims in total are known to be wildly optimistic (e.g. AVG, 8AF bomber crews).

I think this is just fighter vs fighter results. It is quoted in a few air combat books.

You would have to differentiate by year as I'm sure in 1940-41 that Germany had a pretty good ratio against French, British, and Russian aircraft. This would also cover the opening of Japan's Pacific campaigns where it was probably close to parity. Once you get past mid-'43 and the skies are filled with Allied fighters, things become much, much different.

I'd suggest you really need to go to the sources on this. Those are the kind of stats that get copied shorthand. Without seeing the small print explains how they were gathered they aren't worth much.

That does not sound believable. Even the 13:1 ratio in Korea sounds like it has been debunked, but the real numbers still favor the USAF.

If you include just the last year of the war it sounds believable to me. By the end of both conflicts ( WW II ) the US exchange ratio was extremely high. Also, this was based on pilot reported kills, not actual enemy loses.
In addition I remember reading that both services re instituted "top gun" schools during the Vietnam war because of the exchange ratio. They had stopped teaching dogfighting because they thought it would never be needed again. You would just fire your missiles and be done with it.

Joe

Dept of Navy reports F6F Hellcats had a ratio of 19:1 primarily against Japan (5000+ claimed kills). Outnumbered and inexperienced pilots overwhelmed by better planes told the tale. I have seen similar data for USAAF P-51s and P-47s.