User talk:Dapi89/Sandbox
The commander of Germany's fighter aircraft force (General der Jagdflieger) Adolf Galland, argued strenuously against Bodenplatte. He envisioned striking a "Big Blow" (Großer Schlag) against the Allies' bombers, which he thought of as a greater threat and less replaceable. Throughout 1944, Galland strove to accumulate a large reserve of men and aircraft to attack the bombers in massed waves.[1] Some 2,000 German fighters were expected to engage USAAF formations and shoot down 400–500 bombers. Night fighters flying by day were to patrol between Switzerland and Sweden to down any damaged Allied aircraft. The Germans were willing to accept losses of around 400 fighters and 100–150 pilots.[2][3] In the event, the operation was cancelled, and the fighter units redistributed for Bodenplatte.[4][5]