The problem is that these kills were completely uncheckable at the time - at night, under fire, in an aircraft that was all over the shop.
even in daylight claims by both sides were significantly overstated
"
After the Second Raid on Schweinfurt, USAAF gunners aboard the B-17 bombers claimed to have shot down 138 German fighters. German records show that 38 were lost and 20 were damaged. German fighter pilots claimed they shot down 121 bombers and 1 fighter. USAAF records show that 60 bombers and 1 fighter were lost, 17 bombers were scrapped, and 121 bombers were damaged.[size=8333px]"[/size]