Air Forces Comparison-Which was the best one?

Dear Friends,
Analysing from another aspect the aerial war in WW1 we come to a surprising conclusion: The Entante forces won the war, but the aerial supremacy and the ace with the gratest number of kills were German,of the Central forces.
Why was Manfred von Richthofen the best(scorer,i mean)?
Were there better german machines,pilots or what?
I'm looking forward to hearing your opinions on this topic.

Thank you!

[Baron_von_Tecumseh]

The German airforce was the best,because
thats who I like.
MvR was the best,because he lasted a
long time and was top scorer

[stephen]

The best at what?

The most efficient scorer AND leader who had the greatest overall impact on his air service? Boelcke, MvR or McCudden.

The best air to air killer at the front? Foncke, MvR or Guynemer.

The best single man you can put in the air when courage is everything and the odds are hopeless? Barker, Luke or Voss.

By the by, none of those last three are mentioned simply due to their unbelievable final flights. All of them made courage a way of life.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Typhoon:
* *The German Luftstreitkräfte, which was half the size of the combined RFC/RAF and Aviation Militaire and manage to hold them at bay! *The greatest Fighter pilot was Hptm Oswald Boelcke, he wrote the rules of aerial fighting which is still in effect and followed to this day and his influence on all the pilots in his Jasta 2 who all became leaders, and then passed on Boelcke's teachings to the young pilots in the Jasta they led, and his influence on every German boy, who exclaimed, "I want to be a Boelcke". *There was no other pilot ever so emanated!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *Merry Christmas to all my friends,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Dan-San

[PeterL]

The German air force fought mainly a defensive war. As with Fighter Command in 1940 this brought certain advantages; They could launch concentrated attacks at a point of their choosing, while the enemy had to deploy over a wide front to achieve his objectives. The attacker must also outnumber the defender to stand a reasonable *chance of success, and by a considerable margin if that success is to be assured. In the BoB a margin of 3:1 was shown to be insufficient.

</lecture mode off>

[Barrett]

In every major war the outnumbered AF produced the most successful individuals largely because there were more targets! The trend only changed recently when numerical AND technological superiority favored one side over the other (which makes you ponder why the underdog would start the fight in the first place!)
Anyway, heartily concur that the GAS was the best run and probably most professional, given that it was nearly always outnumbered but still achieved local air superiority (occasionally supremacy). DEFINITELY concur that Boelcke was the most influential individual since his dicta directly effected WW II tactics on both sides, and to a lesser extent have lasted well into the jet age. An extremely capable young man: theorist, practitioner, and leader. (he and MvR were dead at 25; today there are VERY few combat aircrew of that age.)
The overlooked aspect of air wars is maintenance. It matters little if Brand X has a 3-1 advantage if only 50% availability is maintained. In that case Brand Y has a good chance to concentrate at the decisive point with 80% of 90% availability. The Germans operated the last many months of the war with declining stocks of fuel but continued putting up significant formations of jastas and schlastas. Also, they more or less invented heavy bombardment though of course the tools were lacking for a strategic effect.

Lemme guess : everyone will go for the German AF , right ?

[BlueSky]

No no I'am German but I'am going to betray my Kaiser und Vaterland...I would rather fight with the brits against fritz!

Bolecke was the best in theory.
MvR was the best in practice.

[Droops]

In studying the various aircraft during the war, I was struck at the technological differences in two-seaters. Germany put forth continuous improvements in its two-seaters, providing their crews with good or very good machines. In addition, the varied tactics of non-scout planes (bombing, ground attack, etc.) show some visionary tactics and strategies.

I contrast that with the British and French, who were fielding the BE2 in April 1917 and the Sopwith 1½ Strutter in January 1918, respectively. In terms of scouts, I've always thought that the Allied forces had equal or better planes. Its in the recon and bombing forces that the GAS shines, and the weaknesses of the British and French become so obvious. That, IMO, is the major difference.

John

[gregoire]

I will desagree with the fielding of army cooperation plane and light bomber. in 18 he french air force was using two great plane (the salmson and the breguet 14a2) those plane were as good as there german counterpart for the light bpmber force the allied were in 18 using two of the best planes of the war the dh9a and the breguet 14b. those were as good as there german opponent. in termof air war one have to remember that, at the difference of ww2, ww1 was a ground war and aviation was only a support to the ground force. I am enclined to believe that for ww1 the best air force in general was the best army cooperation air force