LEADERSHIP

Apologies if this has been raised before but it seems to me that the best (used advisedly) Squadron C.O. was the New Zealander, Keith Caldwell of 74 for the following reasons:
1 He was an exceptionally brave man, who led from the front.
2 He possessed superb powers of leadership.
3 He was admired, respected and loved by those he led.
4 Everybody under his command regarded him as their friend.
Any other candidates?
VBR
Peter S.

[Ginger.]

Mick Mannock and James McCudden.

[Barrett]

Mr. Chairman!
I rise to place in nomination the name of Oswald Boelcke, who invented fighter leadership and brought it to the level that the rest of the world was forced to follow in his slipstream. In turn he produced a passel of other leaders, not least of whom was, ah, er...oh, you know....
Move that nominations be closed.
I thank you...

[Vin]

R H Kiernan, in his Introduction to “Captain Albert Ball” compares Ball and Boelcke. Both Boelcke and Ball were the leading scout pilots at the times of their deaths. Both kind-hearted who killed their enemies with real regret. Both inspired their respective services. Both fought in 1915 – 1916 and died, Ball a touch later, before the advent of advanced scouts such as the Camel and D VII although both had success in the best machines available to them at the time, the Nieuport and the Fokker. Ball “symbolised the offensive spirit” during the Battle of the Somme and his involvement, whilst posted to flight training in England, in push for the design and production of a new scout, the Austin-Ball scout; Boelcke and his rules. Both finished with around 40 victories each. Is this a reasonable comparison ?


Vin

Richthofen.
Took command of an unsuccessful unit and transformed it into the highest scoring jasta of the war.

For the Allies.............McCudden
For the Central Powers.....MvR

(no need for a recount, lads)

[stevedrew]

Peter,
Roderic Stanley Dallas also possessed the qualities you described in "Grid" Caldwell. He was a superb fighter pilot, leading from the front and "blooding" his rookies slowly, had the respect of all who were privileged to know him, was open and kind to his men, and a gentle man. He certainly deserves mention in your list.

VBR

Steve Drew

Redford Henry Mulock went from cavalry corporal to full Colonel, Royal Air Force in less than four years, won two DSOs and was made a Chevalier, Legion of Honour. Senior officers vied to have him on their staffs or commanding units under his control. In the immediate postwar period, British and Canadian authorities virtually promised him any job he wanted (he chose commercial aviation). A pioneer of directing artillery fire by night; a man whose proteges became leaders and aces in their turn.

Thank you for the interesting replies. I would like to make the following points:
1 Did McCudden ever command a squadron? I thought he was killed on the way to take command of 60 squadron.
2 Mannock was not in command of 85 long enough to perhaps count. I stand to be corrected on this.
3 I had not thought of Oswald and he should come into the reckoning. The Allies surely would not have heard of the Boelke principles until after the conflict. The Germans surely regarded defenc as their main objective.
4 Whilst I am not anti Richthofen I think he was too concerned for his own record. The best pilots were transferred from other squadrons were they not?
5 Did not Dallas have an incurable weakness in wishing to fly alone. Was that not how he was killed? Witnessed by members of his squadron. Or am I thinking of somebody else.
6 Tell me more Hugh? This guy sounds like a likely candidate and you have correctly reprimanded us for only choosing C.O.s of fighter squadrons.
Many Thanks
VBR
Peter S.

[Richard_Schrader]

I have to vote for Richthofen. He did teach by example, which is the best way. He also gave away at least 2 victories to new pilots. The best gauge for leadership in a fighter group is the victory to loss ratio. In this Richthofen was also outstanding
Oswald Boelcke was indeed the father of fighter aviation, but from September through October he loss 50% of his pilots in Jasta 2.
As far as Ball goes, he was a loner and not a leader. The same can be said of Bishop and McCudden.
Richard