[Six Nifty .50s]

Originally Posted by Six Nifty .50s

Fighter pilots did inflate the number of aerial victories at sea. Some more than others...

February 12th, 1942
After the British Fleet Air Arm attacked a convoy of German warships off Gravelines, they admitted to the loss of six Swordfish from No. 825 Squadron. But the defenders claimed no less than 21 Swordfish shot down into the sea -- at least eleven kills were awarded to German fighters. According to John Weal, the Germans credited ten more Swordfish to Kriegsmarine flak gunners.

June 3rd, 1942
After Circus 184, the RAF admitted to the loss of six Spitfires to all causes (including two planes that collided in flight). But German pilots from JG 2 and JG 26 were credited with no less than 23 Spitfires shot down into the sea off the coast of France.

June 5th, 1942
After Circus 188, the RAF admitted to the loss of eight Spitfires to all causes (including two damaged planes that returned to the UK). But German pilots from JG 2 and JG 26 were again credited with no less than 23 Spitfires shot down into the sea off the coast of France.

April 29th, 1944
After the US Navy air strikes against Truk Atoll, the Japanese admitted to the loss of 59 aircraft shot down. Barrett Tillman noted that the list of aerial victories credited to US Navy flyers was very accurate -- they were awarded with 65 Japanese planes shot down.

June 19th, 1944
After the 'Great Marianas Turkey Shoot' (amongst the largest carrier battles in history) the Japanese admitted to the loss of 325 aircraft to all causes, including 60 land-based planes. Overclaiming was more significant this time, but not unreasonable. C-in-C Pacific estimated the destruction of 402 Japanese planes -- including 366 downed by Hellcats, 19 downed by AA fire, and 17 destroyed on the ground.

I forgot to include the most controversial case of inflated aerial victories at sea:

December 18th, 1939
After 22 RAF bombers crossed the North Sea and subsequently aborted their attack on German ships at Wilhelmshaven, the RAF admitted that twelve Wellingtons failed to return from the mission. Ten planes were shot down near the target and two ditched later. The remaining ten Wellingtons were all damaged to some extent and several were scrapped after landing in the UK. There is disagreement on the total kills awarded to German flyers. Several pilot reports were either rejected or not confirmed by higher authorities, but if I understood correctly, Tony Wood's Web site lists 40 Wellingtons claimed as shot down into the sea by JG 1, JG 26, JG 77, ZG 76 and JGr. 101.