[Johannes]

Hi Guys

Tried to connect Hartmann to Birkner(who I was led to believe was his wingman) in the "over-claiming" debate, however could find no such connection. In fact although they were in the same Staffel they would appear to have rarely flown together. However in my opinion(if that's worth anything) I would say that there was a connection with Werner Puls with 7./JG 52. More so there are connection between Hartmann and Johannes Bunzek, Friedrich Blessin and Hermann Wolf within 9./JG 52, could just be a coincidence but Hartmann would claim many, directly followed by these pilots claiming a few.

In my opinion it was not at Staffel level but Schwarm level. The common denominator is Hermann Wolf. I would say that as believed if Hermann Graf was "over-claiming" it was with Wolf, Ernst Süss, Leopold Steinbatz and Johann Kalb, but not with Alfred Grislawski or Heinrich Füllgrabe. It would appear that 9./JG 52 were "over-claiming" 1942-1945 at Scharm level.

Could not find anything like the Rudorffer/Tangermann partnership within Stab.III./JG 52. Perhaps Rudorffer was a generous man in handing Tangermann "kills".

With Walter Nowotny help was attained with the help of Anton Dobele principally.

Kind Regards

Johannes