Thread: List of WW2 fighter aces

Obviously, I wasn't "there", so I don't know.
However, as far as "resting & rotation" of Pilots is concerned, I don't know about the German side, but as far as the British side is concerned, that was not entirely true, because simply, they were running out of Pilots quicker than aircraft, so there was certainly no "rotation". Of course, as Germany gradually lost "the edge", things changed.
As far as individual losses are concerned, well in the Battle of Britain, if the German kill claim "estimates" were accurate, the R.A.F. would've been wiped out, it would've been non existant,...in fact it would've been a minus!!
Galland himself said that their "claims procedure" was a little less "thorough" than the R.A.F's.
However,..two things,.....the bravery & sacrifice, on both sides, is undoubted, and,.......I'm glad we won!
Pickles.

Pickles,

I'm glad we won too! If you get a chance, have a read of 'Air Power' by Stephen Budiansky (absolutely brilliant) and 'The Story of Air Fighting' by Johnnie Johnson. Those two books (especially Budiansky's analysis in Air Power) helped fill in a lot of blanks for me when I first read them.


Cheers,

Cripesamighty

Originally Posted by cripesamighty

Pickles,

I'm glad we won too! If you get a chance, have a read of 'Air Power' by Stephen Budiansky (absolutely brilliant) and 'The Story of Air Fighting' by Johnnie Johnson. Those two books (especially Budiansky's analysis in Air Power) helped fill in a lot of blanks for me when I first read them.


Cheers,

Cripesamighty

Thanks for that.
Being an "Old Pom", I grew up amongst all the "Legends" of the R.A.F.,...the Spitfires, Hurricanes, Lancasters, Mosquito's etc, and also the lives of some of the Pilots,....it was very "Boys Own" type stuff,...we were all into it, along with our Hornby Dublo electric model train sets etc,....very different times then!!
I find it amazing that the likes of Galland & Bader etc, were absolutely ruthless, in the air, "kill as many as they can" etc,....but on the ground they were absolute gentlemen and REALLY with a totally chivalrous outlook, as Bader found out when He was captured.
Amazing times, amazing men.
Pickles.

All great planes. As a child of the 1970s and 80s I spent a lot of time building airfix models of them all!

Originally Posted by EastFreo

All great planes. As a child of the 1970s and 80s I spent a lot of time building airfix models of them all!

"Airfix"?!!...Jeez, how long have they been going, & they're STILL going!
Pickles.

Originally Posted by EastFreo

All great planes. As a child of the 1970s and 80s I spent a lot of time building airfix models of them all!

You and me both, I had all these model airplanes suspended from my bedroom ceiling with fishing line. Except I was a child of the 50's and 60's.

I grew up not far from Biggin Hill airport. I worked not far from Croydon Airport for a while and later I lived in Caterham which was in spitting distance of Kenley , itself not all that far from Redhill where some of the Croydon and Kenly boys would fly from when their home aerodrome was badly damaged. By far the best book I've ever read on the subject is " The Most Dangerous Enemy" by Stephan Bungay. Recommended.
cheers,
D

Originally Posted by loneranger

I read it a few times in high school, great read. He would have been an interesting man to have met.

He was.....I had the pleasure of bringing him out to Australia in 1978 in association with Darwin Aero Club , to be the patron of the Back to Darwin 1978 Air Race.

He was not an ace and didn't like being called one.

But he was as live as his book shows him and I could imagine him standing toe to toe with german prison guards as he uttered profanities at them.

Thanks for bringing back the memories guys.

Den