Pilot Training in US?

[Alf]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but one of the reasons the Luftwaffe lost so many F-104s was that the pilots were trained by the USAF in the CAVU conditions of Arizona.
They were then declared 'combat ready' and sent back to their squadrons to perform a low level strike/attack role in the clag of Western Europe!
Discuss.............

The Tornado and Phantom training did OK in New Mexico for many years?

[Sparts99]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but one of the reasons the Luftwaffe lost so many F-104s was that the pilots were trained by the USAF in the CAVU conditions of Arizona.
They were then declared 'combat ready' and sent back to their squadrons to perform a low level strike/attack role in the clag of Western Europe!
Discuss.............

I believe there were a number of reasons for the loss rate, each contributing to an extent. I haven't heard this one before but have read that the post war Luftwaffe wasn't ready for an aircraft like the F104 which already had well publicised problems and a poor accident rate before West Germany ordered them, and the F104s unsuitability for low level ground attack was a major factor.