Luftwaffe shared victories (was: Hartmann ....352 victories or 80?)

[Klaus Schiffler]

Originally Posted by Six Nifty .50s

If he didn't see the plane crash, then he should not claim that it crashed. Especially if the plane was just 'trailing smoke' rather than spinning down in flames or falling in little pieces..

Erich Hartmann's tactics in aerial combat was to approach the enemy aircraft as closely as possible and open fire whereby the destructive effect of the MG and cannon projectiles was devastating and fewer rounds would miss. Hartmann had the experience to know when an enemy aircraft was finished and that the smoke trailing the enemy aircraft was caused by him.