The best example I have is my "flight of the violator" film on YouTube. I'm getting jumped by 5 planes and successfully reverse 2 of them. On the first spit I hit during that tango, I rip his wing clean off, with no friendlies around me, and get a assist ( although you can't tell because the text buffer isn't on). There appears to be no damage at all on him, especially for a plane that is easily and clearly engaging me. So I don't understand how I got the assist.
And yes GLZ I realize that too. Maybe the guy did have a PW. But it sure didn't seem like it.
Maybe a bug?
A few days ago I was robbed of two solid kills in one mission, one right after the other. Each fight was extended, and it was obvious going in that neither pilot was wounded and that their machines were in perfect working condition (each one was a battle to stay alive in). No friendlies around... pretty sure I was the first nme they met. First was a jug... took me minutes to tear off enough parts in multiple passes to take a wing off. Then I followed him down and lit him up. NOTHING. No kill, no assist... nothing. I forget what the second plane was but the circumstances were similar... it took multiple hits w/ my .50s before he went down, but when he did, it was a definitive kill. Still - no kill, no assist.
That's the only time I've experienced such an issue (knock on wood).