Georg-Peter Eder Jet ace confirmation?

[Snautzer]

Would be interesting to see if the soviet airforce were strengthened or had new types at their disposal at the periods of the lesser scores. If only to rule that out.

[Dan History]

Originally Posted by Snautzer

Would be interesting to see if the soviet airforce were strengthened or had new types

Looking at claims by Tanzer from JFV Teil 9/II, the chief pattern is that aces made numerous claims on the same days when their units were heavily engaged:

2 August 1942 - Tanzer's first victory - one of three for 12./JG 51 and a total of 12 for IV./JG 51

5 August - his second - 12./JG 51 - five, IV./JG 51 - ten

24 August - his third - the only one for 12./JG 51, IV./JG 51 - four

3 December - his fourth - 12./JG 51 - four, IV./JG 51 - eight

8 December - victories 5 and 6 - 12./JG 51 - five, IV./JG 51 - eight

9 December - his seventh - 12./JG 51 - all three that day

16 December - victories 8 to 11 - 12./JG 51 - 15, IV./JG 51 - 22

5 January - victories 12 and 13 - 12./JG 51 - three, IV./JG 51 - five

6 January - victories 14 to 17 - 12./JG 51 - 11, IV./JG 51 - 16

7 January - victory 18 - 12./JG 51 - two, IV./JG 51 - three

12 January - victory 19 - only one that day

15 January - victory 20 - 12./JG 51 - two, IV./JG 51 - four

16 January - victories 21 to 23 - 12./JG 51 - six, IV./JG 51 - eight

26 January - victory 24 - 12./JG 51 - two, IV./JG 51 - three

Insofar as it is possible to propose patterns on the basis of this limited summary, it appears that once a pilot became more experienced, he would play a greater role in large air battles and make more claims. After that, it is possible that such pilots were assigned to fly more sweep missions, in which they could make additional claims. It would be reasonable to disguise excessive claims by a single pilot or even a group by making them on a day when many air combat took place, helping to avoid suspicion.

Kind regards,

Dan