Best Ace of WW1

[Nonskimmer]

The young, naive Canadian pilot was Captain Wilfrid (often misspelled as "Wilfred") "Wop" May. He was on his first combat flight. He and Roy Brown were in fact old Edmonton school chums. Wop May ended the war with 13 credited kills and would become a famous bush pilot.

BTW, take the narrative in the link with a grain of salt. It's a bit of a propaganda sheet, so not all of the "facts" may be quite accurate.

http://www.bestcdn.com/primary/pride/may.htm

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I dont think the mistery of the Red Baron will ever be proved and confirmed.

 

[jrk]

The young, naive Canadian pilot was Captain Wilfrid (often misspelled as "Wilfred") "Wop" May. He was on his first combat flight. He and Roy Brown were in fact old Edmonton school chums. Wop May ended the war with 13 credited kills and would become a famous bush pilot.

BTW, take the narrative in the link with a grain of salt. It's a bit of a propaganda sheet, so not all of the "facts" may be quite accurate.

http://www.bestcdn.com/primary/pride/may.htm

thanks for the useful info nonskimmer i enjoyed reading that.and i did laugh at the propoganda line.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yeah it was interesting.

 

[jrk]

edward "mick" mannock the top scoring british pilot with 73 confirmed kills.an irishman flying in the rfc.alas the unfortunate soul killed close towards the wars close.and yet again an se5a pilot

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

That seemed to be the fate of all the great ones. They die right before the end.

 

[jrk]

manfred was so close.yet again another top bloke got so close towards the end yet the finish line seemed so far away.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I think it is a great loss all of them. I wonder if Richthoffen would have flown in WW2 also?

 

[vanir]

Max Immelman, when he wasn't busy shooting his own propeller off with primitive synchronisation gear, developed many fighter combat techniques that were to become the standard in dogfighting, and was responsible for the term "Blue Max" of that particular medal.
He's got my vote.

Of course Richtofen gets two votes for sheer charisma, reputation and deadliness.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Thats a good vote. I still go with Richthoffen out of historical reasons but Immelman is very worthy of the title also.

 

[Nonskimmer]

I've gotta go with Billy Bishop, with 72 confirmed (yes, confirmed) kills. Why? Well because he was damn good, that's why.

...and of course because he was Canadian.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Not a bad choice either though.

 

[jrk]

I think it is a great loss all of them. I wonder if Richthoffen would have flown in WW2 also?

most probably both manfred and lothar would have flown in the second world war.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

I think it is a great loss all of them. I wonder if Richthoffen would have flown in WW2 also?

most probably both manfred and lothar would have flown in the second world war.

Possibly - I think it would of depended if they embraced the Nazi party or were offered a position in the Luftwafle.

It seems a few top aces didn't fair well in WW2 - Wolfram Von Ritchtofen died shortly after the war. Ernst Udet - well, he didn't do too good as well....

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Udet commited suicide didn't he.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

yup - blew his brains out!

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

That is what I thought.

 

[KraziKanuK]

Don't forget the biggest (in more ways than one) idiot, Herr Meyer.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yes and the German people were calling Herr Meyer every day and night from 1942 onward.

 

[The Nerd]

I would say that the Red Baron was the better the the WWI aces.