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Re: Verification Process for Tank Busting Claims
Boomerang,
the prozess for verification for tank claims was ordered 22. May 1944, Az. 95/44 (LP (A) 5, V) and was published on 12. June 1944 in Luftwaffenverordnungsblatt.
As with all orders from higher ranks it was quite complicated. For example it explained exactly what a "Panzer" was. As a rule it what quite similar to the prozess for verifivation of Abschüsse. What is important is, that you had to have an witness in the air or on the ground (members of your own crew were not allowed) and that the claims were confimed at the Luftflottenkommando, not at the RLM.
The order also says, that a Panzervernichtung >> generally << is to be estimated like an Abschuss. But it also says, that the circumstances of the claim are important ("5 claims at one day or single claims against an dangerous flank-attack are more worth than 5 claims during many weeks"). For that reason copies of the pilots "Leistungsbuch" had to be forwared when requesting honors for Panzervernichtungen.
IMHO this order does not say that an "Panzervernichtung" is to be counted as a "Flugzeugabschuss", but only that - in connection with the granting of military honors - it is worth as much as an Flugzeugabschuss. I don't know, whether there was a later order, allowing the direct counting of a Panzervernichtung like an Abschuss.
HTH
Carl
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Carl E. Charles
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