Quote:
Originally Posted by Broncazonk
In my opinion, this latest research supports my, "boom and zoom" hypothesis, that being, Hartmann was claiming one pass, boom and zoom engagements as victories. Visualize Hartmann (and a trusted wingman) diving to engage Russian aircraft, full power, rocketing out of the sky, guns blazing for one pass--one pass only--then zooming clear and away to safety.
As they look back the Russian aircraft is smoking and in a dive: that's a kill.
Going back to confirm the kill or mixing it up with the other Russian guys was a darn good way to die.
Except for his wingman he was outnumbered 3-5-7-10 to 1 most of the time, outnumbered and alone on a free hunt, correct?
How else do you go into combat every single day, and usually multiple times a day, being outnumbered 3-5-7-10 to 1 most of the time and survive? Boom and zoom is the only way--and hanging around to confirm a kill was a sucker's bet.
Thoughts?
Bronc
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It makes sense; similarly Chris Shores reports on his current volumes of The Med Air War Some vics by Marseilles were probably 'damaged' (given his confidence in his abilities, if he hit it, it must have gone down) with mg fire but then another I/JG27 experte also dove it and got in his licks as well--so they both got credit.
Anyway, per the memoirs of Helmut Lipfert, VERY late in the war, he saw that Hartmann waited 'upstairs' and watched the local fighter patrols flying aircover over a fixed point; when the patrols reached the point they needed to turn and head back the other direction, it was felt the pilots were more concerned about keeping formation and avoiding collisions when making those turns, so that's when he'd dive down to shoot then return to altitude to either wait for another chance or slip away in the ensuing chaos.