[Graham Boak]

There's no doubt that there was considerable overclaiming by the RAF at this time, but not particularly excessive considering the circumstances. An overclaiming ratio of 2-3 can be assumed as normal, all nations all theatres. It is usually greater when the fighting is over the other guy's territory, and when you get a number of units involved in a general mix-up. Much of which applies to the RAF in this case, whereas the more limited number of German pilots in these fights, and the German hit-and-run approach with only the leaders getting to shoot, both help to make their claiming more accurate.

I've seen it said that that the arrival of the Mk.IXs (with no guncamera) saw a rise in overclaiming: possibly because they allowed more chances of shooting at all. It took the introduction of a good guncamera to bring this down.

Of course, from a morale point of view it would have done little good to diminish the perceived effect of these missions. As long as the RAF were committed to the permanent offensive, getting too picky in public could have been counterproductive.

I would also take Caldwell with a little bit of salt: I was struck when I read his book how JG26 was always so accurate whereas their rivals JG2 were such wicked overclaimers. I wonder what a partisan historian of JG2 would have to say on the subject.