Combat Reports compiled at squadron level were then passed on to the parent Wing HQ where the Wing Commander would make an assessment of each claim - number of rounds fired, range etc, plus potential confirmation from other pilots involved. Regardless of the Wing Commander's decision, the Combat Reports then went up the tree to Brigade HQ where a further assessment was made.
In this way it was possible for a claim disallowed at Wing level to be allowed at Brigade level. More bizarrely, a claim disallowed by both Wing and Brigade might yet appear in a Communique!
Earlier in this thread, Craig related that the RAF claimed 500-odd victories over Fokker DVIIs in September 1918. I've had a quick run through my victories database and have found claims for 706 victories over DVIIs, 378 classed as "destroyed". While this is probably a more realistic figure, it is undoubtedly too high (try matching this number of claims against the losses listed in
Casualties of the German Air Service when you've a day or three to spare!)
Regards
Graeme
