Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military pilot who has shot down five or more enemy aircraft in air combat. Use of the term "ace" in military aviation began in World War I (1914–18). French newspapers called Adolphe Pegoud, as l'as (French for "ace") after he became the first pilot to shoot down five German aircraft. Many other pilots later became aces, and some are very famous today, like the "Red Baron", Manfred von Richthofen who had 80 kills.
Erich Hartmann was the ace with the most kills; he had 352.
Some countries have recognized armor commanders as "tank aces" for destroying five enemies.
Flying Ace Media
The "first French ace", Frenchman Adolphe Pégoud being awarded the Croix de guerre.
Manfred von Richthofen, known as the "Red Baron", scored the most officially accepted kills (80) in World War I and is arguably the most famous flying ace of all time.
French Colonel Rene Fonck, to this day the highest-scoring Allied flying ace with 75 victories.
Erich Hartmann, with 352 official kills the highest scoring fighter pilot of all time.
Ilmari Juutilainen, the top Finnish flying ace with 94 confirmed kills, the highest scoring non-German pilot of all time.
Ivan Kozhedub, the top Soviet and Allied flying ace in the war, with 60 solo victories to his credit
Capt. Richard Stephen Ritchie, 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, pictured beside the aircraft in which he became the first Air Force ace of the Vietnam War
Giora Epstein, the highest scoring flying ace in the Israeli Air Force with 17 aerial victories
Brig. General Jalil Zandi, an ace fighter pilot in the Iranian Air Force. The most successful F-14 Tomcat pilot ever with eight confirmed kills during the Iran-Iraq war.
Charles B. DeBellevue, the first USAF weapon systems officer to become a flying ace.
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Other websites
- Fighter ace list Archived 2010-03-01 at the Wayback Machine
