I was wondering what qualifies a pilot as an ace? Also, are there any current aces? I know we were able to keep those Iraqi pilots pretty busy for this war and the one in '91. If it’s a ground attack aircraft, can they become an ace for hitting ground targets or is it just air to air kills? Just curious, thanks!
5 kills qualifies as an ace, typically only air to air victories count. I’m not sure if there are any aces on active duty at the moment, but I would imagine there are. Not sure if OIF generated any though, as the Iraqi AF wasn’t a serious factor. Maybe some of the others will have more info.
There haven’t been any American pilots to make the status of “ace” since the Vietnam War. One F-15 pilot did score two MiG kills in ODS and his plane scored three (his two and the third scored by another pilot), but that’s been the most scored by an American since 1975.
There were no A/A engagements in OIF to my knowledge. The Iraqi Air Force sat this one out. Some of there MiG-25s even “buried their heads in the sand!”
Off the top of my head, Steve Ritchie and Randy Cunningham come to mind as Vietnam era aces, but I know there had to be more. Neither is no longer in the service but Ritchie still flies an F-4D at airshows. If you have the chance to see him, by all means go! I doubt there are any aces flying these days
All kills must be confirmed to be counted
And forever gone are the days of aces like Hartmann, Marseille, Galland, Bader and Gabreski.
And definitely do not forget about Major Richard I.Bong.
Top US ace of WWII.
He’s from the area I grew up in Duluth. One of the main bridges from Duluth, MN to Superior, WI is called the Richard I. Bong memorial bridge. They have a museum type thing for him. I believe it may have been featured in an issue of FSM.
Lets be thankful that they are gone.
Because that kind of flying and fighting are no longer needed? Because (we hope) the era of world wars is ended?
Because that type of conflict was a bloody meat grinder that killed a lot of promising young men. Say what you will about modern warfare, it still far safer to be a pilot or soldier today than it used to be.
Amen.
It is a great shame, too, that a number of our top aces died as test pilots – especially on the P-80 – after they stopped flying combat in WWII.
Regards,
Actually in the ETO of WW ll, air to ground kills were also counted toward ace status. The leading air to air ace in the ETO was Robert S. Johnson, with 28 air to air kills. He had no air to ground kills at all.
In Vietnam the USAF had three aces. The top ace with six kills was a back seater named Charles DeBellvue. Steve Ritchie, a pilot and Jeff Feinstein, a WSO is also credited with five kill each.
The Navy had Randy Cunningham and Willie Driscoll as their only ace crew.
Whats ETO?
European Theatre of Operations.
I think in WWII the Germans required 10 kills to grant the title of ace. It depends on each nations individual standards, but in the modern world it is pretty much accepted as 5 kills. In the US RIO’s and WSO’s who are present in the cockpit during a kill are also credited with the kill.
Dave
Yeah Dave 10 kills made the WWII Luftwaffe pilot an ace[tup]
Something else of interest is the Most highly decorated Luftwaffe (and every other service of the Wermacht) pilot of WWII was a Stuka pilot called Hans Rudel who was the sole recipient of the Knights Cross with Oakleaves Swords and Diamonds plus the Golden Oak leaves for destroying 1 Battleship, a cruiser, a destroyer and over 70 landing craft plus 500 tanks 800 trucks 150 artillery posistions and a great many Bridges, and on top of that he destroyed 9 enemy aircraft in the air after trading his Stuka for an FW 190…
I’ve heard of Rudel before. I didn’t know his career was so distinguished. I never heard of Gold Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross before. I thought Diamonds to the Knights Cross was the highest. He must have been one absolutely amazing pilot. Who says fighter jocks get all the glory!
Thanks for the information,
Dave
Haqns Ulrich Rudel wrote a book called “STUKA PILOT”. The book I have is a Bantam Book ISNB 0-553-12304-1. Well worth the read…
Some where I’ve seen this sign:
“Fighter pilots make movies, Attack pilots make history”
If I remember correctly, Hans Rudel’s input on ground attack aircraft was used in the development of the A-10.
Notes on U.S. Aces:
WWI: Capt Eddie Rickenbacher (26 victories)
WWII: Major Richard Bong (40 victories)
Korea: Major Joe McConnell (16 victories…also top U.S. jet ace)
Vietnam: See Berny13’s post.
Two war Aces (all are USAAF/USAF except the one noted):
Colonel Gabreski : 28 WWII (ETO), 6.5 Korea
Colonel Thyng: 5 WWII, 5 Korea
Colonel Bolt (USMC): 6 WWII (PTO), 6 Korea
LTC Garrison: 7.3 WWII, 10 Korea
Major Whisner: 15.5 WWII (ETO), 5.5 Korea
Major Hagerstrom: 6 WWII, 8.5 Korea
Major Davis: 7 WWII (ETO), 14 Korea