Zuperman, I have a suggestion.
It seems that more and more pilots are leaving the game after bombing or if they get in a difficult situation, only to immediately return..
This reduces their "deaths" and immediately takes them back to the base, out of harm's way, allowing them to return with their kill/death stat intact.
I propose a delay of x number of minutes on their return before they can again take off, having the stats reset to zero on leaving, or some other penalty
to discourage this practice.
I believe this is a form of cheating.
Well, I should have read your update post first, before posting this. thank you for addressing this!

There is already a delay unless you are a subscriber. And reducing the "deaths" is very silly. They are not taken into account whatsoever for ranking. Neither are the game losts or won.
But yeah, a delay is already in place.

Release the DRAGON on them,

Zup, you may want to look at that delay again. Many people can leave a game and return and not lose their kills and deaths stats. Folks have done that for a long time to avoid flying a dark game when night would eventually come during a long game.

It's not me : I can't leave the game !
I must wait the end each times !
Even when there is no one left !
Impossible to close the game before the end... LOL