well, the russians ground looped his 109 while on a test flightthen threw him in the Gulag for 10years of hard labour for being a war criminal.
no doubt Rudel did alot on his own, the man had tallent, but for those deep missions into russia they needed escorts.

Hartmann did shoot down alot of outdated russian aircraft, but he also shot down alot of Americans and more modern russian planes.
all while never getting shot down or losing a wingman. no other German ace can claim both.