Hartmann: claims vs. victories

[robert]

Answer is simple: because the Soviets did not report everything. Polish Campaign 1939 is a good example: some Soviet planes were downed by Polish fighters. Some of the Soviet aircrews were captured and interrogated but there is no trace in Soviet documents.

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by robert

Answer is simple: because the Soviets did not report everything. Polish Campaign 1939 is a good example: some Soviet planes were downed by Polish fighters. Some of the Soviet aircrews were captured and interrogated but there is no trace in Soviet documents.

This is the kind of discussion I was looking for, robert.

As you know, in recent decades, the Russian files have been opened, and a lot more information has become available. Is your knowledge of the above as a result of consulting those files, or having someone who has access to them.

As we know, robert, reports up the line were for two reasons: 1) to notify losses of/damage to aircraft so that the Quartermaster could provide replacements, and 2) to notify losses/wounding of aircrew so that replacement crew could be allocated.
To not report either of the above could result ultimately in depleted units in both aircraft and men. So this is an interesting point you make with regard to the Polish Campaign.