the luftwaffe had contributed 4,700 sorties in seven days up until 26 june. they dropped 3,984 tons of bombs. the daily average sorties had decreased 15 percent from the week before and 10 percent the week before that. the increasing operational readiness (49.8 to 64.5 percent) revealed the severity of bomb and fuel shortages. von wild, despite the withdrawal of some "geschwader" for operation blue, did succeed in bringing in much needed reinforcements to bring the strength levels up to a standard not seen since the start of the offensive. the luftwaffe continued the intense bombardment. on 26 june, its attacks supporting xxx corps, devastated soviet defences on the sapun ridge. it was the last soviet defensive line between the axis and sevastopol.