Maybe WOFF should include some 'ladies' whom you can 'attach' if you are successful in combat (like Böeke and his nurse )
This would give you extra points...

Duke;

the rating of the squadron may also be a factor in the decision making of kill authorization. I'm just green lighting on this as I have no knowledge of how the form input is evaluated.

Yes the actual process, and exactly what goes into it, has been a closely guarded secret by OBD.
And that is fine. As I have said before I do not wish to know too much about the "behind the scenes magic" to ruin the game for myself.
And in that regard I kind of feel sorry for the Dev's!

But back to topic since we know nothing we are forced to guess and proceed with a "trial and error" type process OR emulate others who have succeded as you have apparently done.
I do not mind claim rejection as long as there is some kind of logic to it but I will continue file manipulation in cases where a flaming enemy crashes on a friendly airfield 2 miles from my own and confirmation turns out to be doubtful.

Don't try to micro analyse it, believe me you will kill the fun eventually. Some of you obviously are not entering the data as well as others, a sample of 100 kills or whatever is way way too low to say the claim system is broken. If Robert thinks it's fine, and you think it's miles off then it's not WOFF!

BTW just because a craft lands near your field doesn't mean you are the only claimant. Yes you KNOW you got it, doesn't mean the rest of the world does. Kind of the whole point of claims.

Yes I know but it's my fantasy eh?
And if I say I shot it down then, darnit, I shot it down. Not Hans or Franz (or Jack or Bob depending on the career) so it's mine.
And all eyes are focused on me visually confirming my glory for King or Kaiser. I am the hero ace!

On a more serious note I fully understand what you are saying and a rejected claim could be for any number of "real life" reasons not neccessarily modelled in the game but reflected, indirectly, by the claim system and a claim rejection. And I usually don't mind a rejection unless it's flamingly obvious it almost certainly would be confirmed - at least in my fantasy world. And the occasional claim tweak is as much knowledge as I want to have. Besides the Aces.txt thing of course.
You guys work the magic and I will continue to enjoy the best sim, IMHO, ever produced. Not many things in my life I would drop $1500.00+ just to increase my enjoyment.

I am the handsome, dashing, skilled, and deadly flying ace and things go my way - least till I make a smoking crater...again!

DukeIron Hand: " I saw it! It's mine! it's was a kill! "

Adjutant : " then you have the supreme satisfaction of knowing you have served the Fatherland"

Commander: "unconfirmed by headquarters means unconfirmed. Do you understand.?

Hey!
It's usually me throwing out the Blue Max quotes here.
"We'll search those woods over there."
"But you already have!"
"What?"
"You searched those woods an hour ago!"
"Well we'll search them again. What's the matter MFair? Too close to the guns for you?"