Hartmann: claims vs. victories

[Broncazonk]

There is one scenario where Erich Hartmann is relatively "innocent" in all of this and it has everything to do with his wingman.

If I am Erich Hartmann's wingman, the safest thing for ME to say every single time for MY own safety is, "you got him!"

By way of example, Hartmann and his wingman are out on a free hunt. There they are, sitting up high, ducking in and out of the clouds, watching and waiting for something to develop. A Russian bomber formation appears down low in tight formation with fighter cover just a few thousand feet above them. Hartmann power dives, his wingman close behind, and BOOM Hartmann opens up on a victim with machine guns and cannon. Hartmann ZOOMS through the fighter protection and never even looks back, because his wingman who had a really good and very clear view of the engagement says, "you got him! That's a victory."

Hartmann's wingman could have been thinking: (1) I am Erich Hartmann's wingman and I don't want to be the guy that got Erich Hartmann killed. (2) Also, I don't want to die because death is bad and I enjoy being Erich Hartmann's wingman. (3) I saw Erich Hartmann engage a Russian aircraft at close range and saw numerous machine gun and cannon strikes on that aircraft. (4) The aircraft rolled over and headed straight towards the ground right after being hosed with bullets and shells fired by Erich Hartmann. (5) There is no reason whatsoever to go back in there and get mixed up in a furball with a bunch of pissed-off Russians just to see if that aircraft hit the ground: See 1 and 2 above.

I can see this happening A LOT. And this also explains 4 and 5 "victories" in a single mission.

And in my opinion, Hartmann may have honestly believed his wingman, not knowing what he was actually doing.

Bronc