Oldman (et al.) in this thread:
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,354123.45.html you made the following claim:
I think that the Luftwaffe had a fairly lax standard of kill confirmation, air-to-air, air-to-ground, air-to-sea (in the case of the Marat, at least). They talked a good talk, but there are too many inconsistencies in claims made vs. kills which actually occurred to make me believe that the Luftwaffe standards were as rigorous as the US or British, who had routine gun camera film which was routinely examined by independent intelligence officers...
Yesterday BaldEagl posted a video of James Swett's action in Guadalcanal that earned him a Medal of Honor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadMxLadg18I also looked up Mr. Swett's page on wikipedia:
"Medal of Honor action
On April 7, 1943, on his first combat mission, Swett both became an ace and acted with such "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" that he would be awarded the Medal of Honor.[2][3]
His first mission was as a division leader on a combat air patrol over the Russell Islands early on the morning of April 7 in expectation of a large Japanese air attack. Landing to refuel, the four-plane division of F4F Wildcats he was leading was scrambled after other aircraft reported 150 planes approaching Ironbottom Sound, and intercepted a large formation of Japanese Aichi D3A dive bombers (Allied code name: "Val") attacking Tulagi harbor.[2]
When the fight became a general melee, Swett pursued three Vals diving on the harbor. After shooting down two, and while taken under fire from the rear gunner of the third, the left wing of his F4F was holed by U.S. antiaircraft fire directed at the Japanese. Despite this, he shot down the third Val and turned toward a second formation of six Vals leaving the area.[2]
Swett repeatedly attacked the line of dive bombers, downing each in turn with short bursts. He brought down four and was attacking a fifth when his ammunition was depleted and he had his cockpit shot up by return fire. Wounded, he decided to ditch his damaged fighter off the coast of Florida Island, after it became clear that his oil cooler had been hit and he would not make it back to base. After a few seconds of further flight, his engine seized, and despite initially being trapped in his cockpit, Swett extricated himself and was subsequently rescued in Tulagi harbor after crash-landing his Wildcat. This feat made the 22-year-old Marine aviator an ace on his first combat mission.[2]"
So here's my question: How was Mr. Swett's victories confirmed?
It was his first combat mission. He apparently was alone during this action. I presume the guncam footage went down with his plane (was it salvaged?). He earned the MoH for this so there must be something I'm missing?
Also: A MoH for this? Shooting down seven Val dive bombers? In the video he even laughs at how easy they were to flame as they kept formation and flew straight and level. It certainly doesn't seem comparable to the actions of other MoH recipients like Audie Murphy or Rodger Young.
Am I missing something here?
