It's not a bad wish, and while it may not take a whole lot of time to implement, I do not really see the point to devote the time to do it. If anything, I would say that CTRL + D could probably be removed from fighters. For most bombers, you could probably keep it due to the simple fact that there would be more eyes on the plane that would be able to actually check/see for the damage to be listed. A single fighter pilot however would not be able to. Then again, maybe not. In real life a pilot probably be able to tell if he lost a component and what-not due to how the plane "feels". Since we can't "feel" how our planes respond (though we can see), CTRL + D should stay.
So scratch my "remove from fighters" bit.
If your wish is implemented, okay.
If not, oh well.
It would not bother me either way, especially since you listed the ability to still use the standard CTRL + D method. 
In the game of AH2:
If I lose a flap, I can tell which, when I deploy them, from the way my plane lists when landing.
If I lose an aileron, I can tell by the decrease in the roll rate of my aircraft.
If I lose an elevator, I can tell by a decrease in pitch control.
If I lose rudder, I can tell by lack of yaw control.
Guns can be diagnosed by lack if muzzle flash and sometimes the rhythmic staccato of firing the guns is not so rhythmic anymore.
Gray smoke? Fuel.
Black smoke? Oil.
White smoke? Coolant.
Gears? There is an indicator for that.
There is even an ammo counter.