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Lists of World War I flying aces

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German ace Manfred von Richthofen known as the Red Baron

The following are lists of World War I flying aces. Historically, a flying ace was defined as a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The term was first used by French newspapers, describing Adolphe Pégoud as l'as (the ace), after he downed seven German aircraft.[1]

Aerial victory standards of World War I

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Main article: Aerial victory standards of World War I

The notion of an aerial "victory" arose from the first aerial combats, which occurred during the early days of World War I. Different air services developed their own definitions of exactly what an aerial victory might be, as well as different methods of assessing and assigning credit for aerial victories. All standards had accuracy flaws that led to overclaiming aerial victories. Former Wings editor Wayne Ralph (2008) observed: 'In the First World War, the Second World War and also the Korean War, overclaiming was common; it varied by theatre, nation and individual, but it was inevitable.'[2]

Ownership of the terrain below had its effect on verifying victory. An enemy aircraft that crashed in enemy held territory obviously could not be verified by the victor's ground troops. Because aerial combat commonly took place over or behind the German lines, German scores are generally considered more accurate because German aces' victories were more easily confirmed on the ground. Additionally, the British handicap of returning home against prevailing wind on the Western Front fattened German scores.[3]

The scores presented in the lists cannot be definitive, but are based on itemized lists that are the best available sources of information. Loss of records by mischance and the passage of time complicates reconstructing the actual count for given aces.[4]

Lists

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Aces are listed after verifying the date and location of combat, and the foe vanquished, for every victory accredited by an aviator's home air service.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Maksel, Rebecca. "What does it take to become an "ace"?". airspacemag.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  2. ^ Ralph 2008, p. 1.
  3. ^ Guttman & Dempsey 2009, p. 39.
  4. ^ Shores, Franks & Guest 1990, p. 7.

Bibliography

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Above the Trenches Series

  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman L. R.; Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. Above the Trenches Series. London: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.
  • Franks, Norman L. R.; Bailey, Frank W. (1992). Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. Above the Trenches Series. Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0. OCLC 28223455.
  • Franks, Norman L. R.; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell (1993). Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Above the Trenches Series. London: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 0-948817-73-9.
  • Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914–1918: Volume 4 of Fighting Airmen of WWI Series: Volume 4 of Air Aces of WWI. Norman Franks, Russell Guest, Gregory Alegi. Grub Street, 1997. ISBN 1-898697-56-6, ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.
  • Pieters, Walter M. (1998). Above Flanders' Fields: A Complete Record of the Belgian Fighter Pilots and Their Units During the Great War, 1914–1918. Above the Trenches Series. London: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 1-898697-83-3.
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