Hartmann: claims vs. victories

[HGabor]

Bronc, these are the questions that I cannot answer. I did not know Hartmann personally and never talked to him, so it would not be fair for me to pretend that I have the correct answer(s). The only thing I know, is that his victory-list contradicts the soviet loss records 'beyond all imagination', while others' match them pretty well. I do not know what political pressure was on him, or he really believed his numbers. He was a very skilled and brave pilot, because even if he destroyed 'only' 102 planes, it is still an amazing achievement. I think his preferred tactics of a quick ambush ('hit and run') itself carried the big chance to misunderstand the actual results. Smoke, or even flames were very visual results, but very often not enough to justify an aerial victory. Everything happened in a split of a second and I think the damaged planes still could have a good chance to survive, as Hartmann usually did not turn back for a second strike.