How many World War II aces were there?
Of the thousands of fighter pilots who had taken to the skies in World War II only 1,279 became fighter aces. This total is composed of 735 USAAF aces, 381 Navy aces, 122 Marine Corps aces, 22 Americans who became aces flying with the Royal Air Force, and 19 aces in the AVG.
Who was the top RAF Aces ww2?
Top 10 RAF Fighter Aces of WWII
- 1 – Marmaduke Thomas St John Pattle (left)
- 2 – James Edgar Johnson.
- 3 – Pierre Clostermann.
- 4 – George Frederick Beurling.
- 5 – William Vale.
- 6 – Robert Roland Stanford Tuck.
- 7 – John Randall Daniel Braham (right)
- 8 – Brendan Eamon Fergus Finucane.
Are there any ww2 aces still alive?
Convened by Seattle’s Museum of Flight, the May 20 ceremony recognizes the accomplishments of the 1,447 American Aces who achieved the elite designation. While only 77 remain alive today, more than 35 of them will gather in Washington, D.C. to receive the recognition in person.
Who was the greatest British flying ace?
1. Albert Ball VC. Albert Ball (1896-1917) was a British fighter pilot and, with 44 official victories, was one of the United Kingdom’s highest-scoring air aces.
Who kills the most air to air?
Erich Hartmann
Erich Hartmann, with 352 official kills the highest scoring fighter pilot of all time. Ilmari Juutilainen, a Finnish flying ace with Brewster BW-364 “Orange 4” on 26 June 1942 during the Continuation War.
Who shot down most planes in ww2?
While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills. How did Hartmann get so good at dominating the skies over the Eastern Front?
Who is the most famous RAF pilot?
Douglas Bader is one of the Royal Air Force’s most famous pilots and his story has inspired countless people in many different ways.
Are any Luftwaffe pilots still alive?
Hugo Broch, the last German ace of the World War II who is still alive.
Which pilot has the most kills?
Erich Hartmann, with 352 official kills the highest scoring fighter pilot of all time. Ilmari Juutilainen, a Finnish flying ace with Brewster BW-364 “Orange 4” on 26 June 1942 during the Continuation War.
Who has the best pilots in ww2?
Who was the best pilot ever?
#1: Charles Lindbergh
- Louis Bleriot.
- Erich Hartmann.
- Charles E. Yeager.
- Baron Manfred Von Richthoven.
- James ‘Jimmy’ Doolittle.
- The Wright Brothers.
- Amelia Earhart.
- Charles Lindbergh.
What was the most feared plane in ww2?
Junkers Ju87
Junkers Ju87 Widely known as the “Stuka”, the Ju87 was one of the most feared aircraft during World War Two. It had a fearsome siren which terrified those who heard it. Lockheed Hudson Useful aeroplane. The wooden lifeboat was designed to be dropped by Hudsons to rescue airmen who had ditched.
Who had the best pilots in ww2?
While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills.
Who shot down the most planes in ww2?
Who was the best British pilot in ww2?
Group Capt. “Johnnie” Johnson, Commanding Officer of the Canadian-manned Kenley Wing, brings his Spitfire Mk IX in for a landing following a fighter sweep over Nazi occupied Europe in May of 1943. Johnson was the top scoring British ace of WWII.
Why did German planes have yellow noses?
The yellow nose paint was first introduced on 109’s during the Polish campaign as a recognition marking to avoid ”friendly” fire from the Wehrmacht when operating on ground strafing missions; I have read that the Luftwaffe lost more 109’s this way in Poland than were actually lost in combat, and hence the yellow became …
Which country has the best pilots in WW2?
That meant their best pilots flew far more missions than their British or American counterparts, and recorded much higher individual victory totals: 379 German pilots had 40 or more combat wins, compared to one each from the US and UK.
Who was the best pilot in ww2?
Top Image: Major Richard Bong courtesy of the US Air Force. Known as the “Ace of Aces” for his rank as the top American flying ace during World War II, Major Richard Ira Bong is credited with the downing of an impressive confirmed total of 40 enemy aircraft over the course of his career as a fighter pilot.
Who was the deadliest pilot in ww2?
Which fighter did the Germans fear most?
They called it a ‘fork-tailed devil. ‘ Key point: The P-38 was a forerunner of modern multi-role fighters.
Who shot down most planes in WW2?
Why did they paint Sharks on planes?
WWII enthusiasts will be familiar with the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, better known as the “Flying Tigers.” Their Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter planes were painted with a distinct shark mouth nose art — partly as a form of psychological warfare, partly as self-expression, and generally as a …
What was better bf109 or Fw 190?
The Fw 190 had greater firepower than the Bf 109 and, at low to medium altitude, superior manoeuvrability, in the opinion of German pilots who flew both fighters. It was regarded as one of the best fighter planes of World War II.
Which ACE has the most kills?
Why did the Germans have so many aces?
By war’s end, he had scored 275 confirmed victories so if anyone knows anything about the topic, it should be him. As far as Rall is concerned, the success of German Aces like himself was due to three factors: (1) they never had to look for a target, (2) they were always engaged, and (3) they were indispensable.