[Laurent Rizzotti]

Contrary to what has been said in this thread, shared victories were more often credited to full victories to the aces rather than to their wingmen. I have read more often German pilots complaining their claims were rejected to give credits to unit or Schwarm leaders than pilots saying their leader let them a victory credit.

At least in some cases, when Germans pilots claimed numerous victories and a smaller number of wrecks was found, the pilots awarded with kills were the ones having the higher scores, the other seeing their claim rejected (happens to Crump of JG 26 at the start of his combat experience).

Most shared victories are against bombers. German principle was to give the credit of the victory to the pilot who damaged the plane enough to make if break of the formation (HSS victory). The final destruction of the isolated damaged bomber (e.V.) was in principle not counted as a victory (but gave points for medals award). In real life, claims were often awarded for both types of claims, as American heavy bombers were able to fly for a long distance even with heavy damage.

As for the record for shares, during the Phoney War, a Ju52 was shot down over the French-German frontier by 11 French pilots. Every of this pilot was accorded a victory (each for 1/11 of a Ju52).

Regarding the score of Experten and propaganda, it is propable that all claims of these guys were accepted (and celebrated). The German confirmation processus may last more than one year, while the news abouth these "stars" should be used at once. On the other hand, I don't think that German newspapers gave individual scores of pilots during air battles, even if they will show celebrations for 100th, 200th and so on victories.