Hartmann: claims vs. victories

[Nick Beale]

Nonetheless, score is a result of opportunity, and do not say much about quality of a pilot. The large discrepancy between scores on ETO and MTO and against Soviet Union strongly suggests that this was a result of technical factor.

I quite agree. There was a big discrepancy in German attrition rates between the different theatres, too. I have some figures somewhere from a conference in early 1944.

And diving on lone or isolated enemy fighters was not a 'war-winning' approach. Much like Marseille in Africa.

Stephen Bungay's book "Alamein" has some sceptical comments on Marseille — piling up scores against fighters while ignoring the bombers devastating Panzerarmee Afrika. But that's what you get when you promote the ethos of the duelling warrior-hero …