Hans Hahn/Maximilian Stotz

[Stig Jarlevik]

First of all the subject in this thread is/was Hans Hahn/M Stotz and is now totally side tracked.

Secondly the discussion is becoming more and more futile, since
a) None of us were there
b) trying to read useful information out of old records are very difficult since we have very little true
understanding why a report was written the way it was.
c) Writing reports showing that the enemy were far superior than yourself would have been
disastrous for morale and reports were no doubt written with that in mind making collisions, shot
down by AA-fire or even by your own side rather than an enemy in air-air combat so much
more attractive.

This "fooling yourself" activity took very odd terms especially when the USAAF in Europe and the
US Navy in the Pacific began their own war against Germany and Japan.
For some reason the mentality that "we can never be shot down" except by AA-fire took a firm
root and was later transferred over to the Korean conflict.
I bet there are still many out there who believe in the enormous superiority of the F-86 over the MiG-15 etc
All aircraft shot down during strafing/bombing attacks were only shot down by AA-fire.
Good (or at least acceptable) for morale perhaps, but far from the truth.

My own thinking is very clear and I accept that others have a different view.

Cheers
Stig