Davaar: Here are a few more stats from the bad years.
1953 all types, 486 lost, 334 fatalities.
1954 all types, 453 lost, 282 fatalities.
1955 all types, 306 lost, 177 fatalities.
1956 all types, 272 lost, 150 fatalities.
I havn't totalled 1945-1952, but they look as bad if not worse.
Post 1957 the numbers tapered off quite sharply because of the Duncan Sandys defence white paper