Yes, I too wonder about the veracity of some of the "risky" flying claims. I suspect these claims have been made to bolster the daring do image of the occupant of the Stearman's rear cockpit.
If they were made in my presence I'd be asking questions, however they've been made to people who don't really understand anything about flying.
Piltdown man, the camera angle can be deceiving at times, long lenses can distort the perspective markedly.