Seven hundred and thirteen aeroplanes were brought down on the Western battle front during May, only four less than in April, when the struggle for superiority in the air reached its maximum intensity. In this period the Germans lost 442 machines and the Allies, according to the claims of the enemy, 271. It is impossible to resist the conclusion that the air reports of German Main Headquarters are, like their military communiques, exaggerated, even when they are not quite false. Our General Headquarters in France, the only one of the belligerents which acknowledges its own losses, admits that, during May, 86 British aeroplanes failed to return to their base. Deducting this figure from the German total, it would mean, if it is accurate and does not include, as the enemy’s summary frequently does, machines brought down on the Eastern and Balkan fronts, that the French Air Service has lost 185 aeroplanes, or nearly twice as many as their comrades in the Royal Flying Corps. But taking the figures as they are, they show that the Germans lost 73 more machines Iast month than in April, that our losses were 61 fewer, and that those of the French were 16 more.
The British successes were classified in the daily reports as follows: Destroyed, 19; crashed, two; brought down (which, as in the case of the French, means destroyed), 91; fell, in our lines, nine; brought down by anti-aircraft guns, nine; driven down out of control, 113.
The most interesting item concerning the German Air Service is the complete disappearance from the official reports of Cavalry Captain Baron von Richthofen. This airman was the commander of a squadron which is known at the front as Richthofen’s “Circus”, and he and it have been credited with quite dazzling performances. Richthofen was sprung upon the public on February 15 as the victor in 21 air fights, and between that date and April 30 (on which day he is said to have brought down five enemy machines) he was reported to have accounted for 31 other aeroplanes. Since April 30, however, his name has not appeared once in the German reports. But the name of another Richthofen — a lieutenant — has figured in the reports since May 7, and it is claimed for him that he has brought down 24 machines.
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