[Johannes]

Hi

I have no proof, but my hypothesis(based on claim dates/times) was that Hans Hahn being the Kommandeur of II./JG 54 was able to hand pick his wingman(Stotz), and that they flew as a Rotte, therefore easy to make false claims. Certainly after Hahn was captured Stotz's claims drop dramatically, but again this could just be a lull in the fighting. I was hoping it wasn't common throughout the Staffel or even Gruppe. Certainly towards the end of Stotz's time came along Emil Lang, so it looks like either Lang had Stotz's as a teacher, or it was well established within the Staffel.....though not all, Lang had two or three claiming always with him, but others appear to be unaware of his scam.

It is fact that Lang according to Norbert Hannig set out to break the record for most "kills" by an individual in a day, he had organised who his wingmen would be or each of the sorties he would fly on that day(3rd November 1943). This also would bring his total to the "100" point, it does rather stink of ste-up. It is also often the case that a pilot reaches the "100" mark with a "big day", and as we have learned it was the "big day" claimers that are usually(but not always) the false claimers.

As mentioned before I believe that Joachim Kirschner used his rank as Kommandeur of IV./JG 27 to hand pick Heinrich Bartels as his wingman.

Kind Regards

Johannes