American Ace still alive?

Are there still any American aces still alive?

[Barrett]

A good guess is about 400, including both from The Vietnam Thing.

[Lufbery]

Barrett,

I can't be sure, but I suspect that Jerry was asking about American WWI aces who might still be alive.

If that's the case, then the answer is no. From what I've read on this board, the last ace to die did so in 1974.

-Drew

Thanks Drew. I did mean WWI. What I really should have asked is there still any WWI pilots, from any country, that are still alive? It would be interesting to know of one that saw the 21st century.

[Barrett]

The last known living US ace of the Great War died c. 1993: James Pearson, an RAF Dolphin pilot. None of the US WW I aces reached 100 though some nonaces have done so.
Some of the WW II aces almost certainly will make their century. Right now my money's on Robert L. Scott (92) and Joe Foss (84), still going strong based on disgustingly healthy lifestyles. Somebody once asked what's the leading cause of death among aces, and in my experience, it's coronaries, cancer, and booze in approximately that order. Flak and fighters are waaaay down the list! In fact, operational accidents might outnumber combat losses.

[Kirk]

tHE PREVIOUS ENTRY WAS CORRECT ABOUT THE LAST ACE. HE DIED 7 LONG YEARS AGO. THE LAST LIVING ACE I HAVE TRACKED SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE AUTHOR CECIL LEWIS, BRITISH.