[Csaba B. Stenge]

Nikita,

Barkhorn had without witness claim, which was confirmed to him (over enemy territory, so there was no chance to find the wreck, or finding ground witnesses, which was a common procedure, if the claim was over own territory without air witness).
I guess, for some high aces, the authorities confirmed more easily victories (as I found in some documents). Another thing: I guess, some of them did not 'force' their without witness or 'probable' claims (like Lipfert), but the others did (like Hartmann).
Unfortunately, most of their detailed Abschussmeldungen went missing, so hard to say now, how were some of their victories confirmed (without witness and/or without real loss form the other side).

Csaba