Fighter aces in World War II had tremendously varying kill scores, affected as they were by many factors: the pilot's skill level, the performance of the airplane the pilot flew and the planes they flew against, how long they served, their opportunity to meet the enemy in the air (Allied to Axis disproportion), whether they were the formation's leader or a wingman, the standards their air service brought to the awarding of victory credits, et cetera.
Aces
According to Obermaier, 103 Luftwaffe pilots were credited with more than 100 aerial victories.[1] Further more, the US historian David T. Zabecki states that 105 Luftwaffe pilots were credited with more than 100 aerial victories,[2] adding Friedrich Wachowiak with 140 aerial victories,[3] and Paul-Heinrich Dähne with 100 aerial victories, who were not listed by Obermaier.[1][4] Additionally, Spick lists Horst-Günther von Fassong with 136 aerial victories, Rudolf Rademacher with 126 aerial victories, and Herbert Rollwage with 102 aerial victories.[5]
Notes
- ↑ According to Spick, Rudorffer was credited with 222 aerial victories.[6]
- ↑ According to Spick, Bär was credited with 220 aerial victories.[6]
- ↑ According to Spick, Sturm was credited with 157 aerial victories.[23]
- ↑ According to Spick, Düttmann was credited with 150 aerial victories.[23]
- ↑ According to Zabecki, Schall was credited with 133 aerial victories.[3]
- ↑ According to Zabecki, Grislawski was credited with 132 aerial victories.[38]
- ↑ According to Spick, Hoffmann was credited with 125 aerial victories.[40]
- ↑ According to Zabecki, Sterr was credited with 129 aerial victories.[38]
- ↑ According to Spick, Dahl was credited with 128 aerial victories.[32]
References
Citations
- 1 2 Obermaier 1989, pp. 243–244.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Zabecki 2019, p. 328.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Zabecki 2019, p. 329.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Zabecki 2019, p. 331.
- ↑ Spick 1996, pp. 230, 233.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Spick 1996, p. 227.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 39.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Morgan & Weal 1998, p. 88.
- 1 2 3 4 Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1531.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Forsyth 2011, p. 90.
- 1 2 Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1532.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 57.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Spick 1996, p. 228.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 30.
- 1 2 3 Obermaier 1989, p. 65.
- 1 2 3 Obermaier 1989, p. 54.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 58.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 52.
- 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 53.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 64.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 60.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Spick 1996, p. 229.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 33.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 20.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 212.
- ↑ Schreier 1990, p. 175.
- 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 219.
- ↑ Spick 1996, p. 235.
- 1 2 3 Obermaier 1989, p. 51.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 192.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Spick 1996, p. 230.
- 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 109.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 111.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 68.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 32.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 220.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Zabecki 2019, p. 330.
- 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 59.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Spick 1996, p. 231.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 135.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 210.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 183.
- ↑ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1533.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 55.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Zabecki 2014, p. 1610.
- 1 2 Spick 1996, p. 242.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 74.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 156.
- 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 89.
- 1 2 3 Obermaier 1989, p. 29.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 222.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 153.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Spick 1996, p. 232.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 99.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 150.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 48.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 23.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 161.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Spick 1996, p. 233.
- 1 2 Obermaier 1989, p. 38.
- ↑ Toliver & Constable 1998, p. 405.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 72.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 31.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 17.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 169.
- ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 98.
Bibliography
- Forsyth, Robert (2011). Luftwaffe Viermot Aces 1942–45. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-438-3.
- Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
- Morgan, Hugh; Weal, John (1998). German Jet Aces of World War 2. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 17. London; New York: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-634-7.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- Schreier, Hans (1990). JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2. Weltkriegs [JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II] (in German). Berg am See: K. Vowinckel. ISBN 978-3-921655-66-5.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- Toliver, Raymond F.; Constable, Trevor J. (1998) [1977]. Die deutschen Jagdflieger-Asse 1939–1945 [The German Fighter Aces 1939-1945] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-193-9.
- Zabecki, David T., ed. (2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3.
- Zabecki, David T., ed. (2019). The German War Machine in World War II. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-44-086918-1.