Could Germany have won WWII?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

The 500 figure is patently absurd and not corroborated by any records, as are the USAF credits of 1,161.

Nobody with any knowledge of USAAC claims in combat would have put much stock in the number. For example, a quick scan of the wiki (this one with triple sourcing) notes the following from the first shuttle mission (Regensburg Schweinfurt in 1943):

"Spitfire pilots claimed 13 German fighters shot down and P-47 pilots claimed 19.[19][20] Gunners on the bombers claimed 288 fighters shot down,[21][22] but Luftwaffe records showed only 25-27 were lost."

The German Air Force had only 400 fighters committed to intercepting the raid. Losing 75% in an afternoon would probably have been noticeable....not that that bothered the aircrews making the silly claims.

The USAAC consistently claimed far higher accuracy, far higher damage inflicted, and far higher kill totals than could be supported by anything resembling fact.