Overlooked non ace legends of ww1 flying

[anzac]

Hi I haven't posted for a while.

I would still like to see a section on this site for pilots who although not actually aces went on to do extraordinary things. 4 Aussie pilots spring to mind and there must be loads of British, Commonwealth, American, French, German and other pilots who did similar feats but were not aces but went on to acachievereatness . Can anyone think of some more examples ?

1 Sir Charles kingsford Smith 1897-1935, MC. Australia's Greatest Aviator. First to fly the Pacific and holder of numerous flying records. Shot down a total of 4 enemy aircraft and a 2 balloons (surely this makes him an ace?). Was injured in the foot in enemy action and did not get back in time to get his fifth kill. Not an ace by definition, but possibly the greatest aviator of all time.

2. Bert Hinkler 1892-1933 DSM, also not an ace but early pioneer of Australian Aviation pre ww1 with gliders. Served in ww1 .Was a test pilot for Sopwith and chief test pilot for AV ROE post war . Becomes first man to fly solo from England to Australia. Set numerous records, more achievements in aviation see http://www.bundabergonthe.net/hinkler/achievements.htm



3. Sidney Cotton(1894-1969) RNAS So many acheivements he devised camouflage for aircraft, an upward firing gun mounting, long range bombing methods and other inventions. Most known for the SIDCOT flying suit. 1930's became aerial recon expert and using hidden cameras in the wing of his Lockeed 12A, photographs many nazi instillations after under their very noses in 1939. Flying legend. http://www.aceflyer.com/cotton/

4. Harry Hawker(1889-1921) OBE Civilian pilot, chief test pilot of Sopwith Aviation, founder of Hawker aviation, record breaker, racing car driver , long distance pilot.http://users.chariot.net.au/~theburfs/hawker.html


I think the site needs a section on pilots/crew that made significant contribution in the post world war one Ace or not. positive or negative impact ( Goering)

So these guys above for Australia plus Hudson Fysh (QANTAS), Smith Brothers.

Keith Park for NZ

What about Capt W E Johns ? Not an ace but howmany of us owe our love of WW1 aviation to the man and his books ?

What about designers ? Surely we should have a section on the great designers of WW1 aviation. Sopwith, A V Roe, Hawker, Fokker,Platz, Heinkel or more detail about the works themselves ?

I know I haven't posted for a while and last time I brought this up but what about something like this in the site

[anzac]

What ? No one has an opinion on this ?

[Vin]

Originally posted by anzac@Mar 24 2004, 07:24 AM
[b] What ? No one has an opinion on this ?

All four well worthy of mention, Anzac. Let me derails your thread a little. I read an article in the "Sunday Age" last year about Roby Manuel's grandson, a cocky in the Mallee. He has built/acquired a replica SE 5A bearing his grandfather's iarcraft's markings and colour and flies it around his farm from time to time. So, the thread turns to blokes following in their grandfathers' footsteps.

[cameldriver]

From the US, I would nominate Jimmy Doolittle and Hap Arnold, both pilots in WWI who saw no action (didn't even get overseas), but did great things thereafter.

[anzac]

Originally posted by cameldriver@Mar 24 2004, 11:07 PM
[b] From the US, I would nominate Jimmy Doolittle and Hap Arnold, both pilots in WWI who saw no action (didn't even get overseas), but did great things thereafter.

What about Billy Mitchel.

[cameldriver]

Originally posted by anzac@Mar 24 2004, 11:49 PM
[b]What about Billy Mitchel.

I don't think that Mitchell should be considered a pilot, although he qualified as one. His WWI service was as a staff officer, not a flyer. He was prophetic about the future of airpower, but his style turned off a lot of people.

[MikeW]

Harry Hawker, for all his achievements, was not the founder of Hawker Aviation - that would be Sir Thomas Sopwith.

Hawker was the "front" man for the new company after Sopwith's went into liquidation.



Sooo... Sir T.O.M. Sopwith was a huge non-ace legend before, during, and after WW1, and also WW2 and beyond.

Mike

Vicente Almonacid, an Argentinean, flew with Corps d'Armée Nº 20 during WW1 having previously transferred from the Foreign Legion. Prior to the transfer he had been offered a captaincy in the Legion but refused because he would have been required to adopt French citizenship. He was rewarded for his stand because he was later promoted to captain without having to adopt French citizenship. After the War he returned to Argentina then found himself in Paraguay. He joined the Paraguayan Air Corps in its infancy. He later headed the Paraguayan Air Corps during the Chacun War. Imagine having the opportunity of going to a small, impoverished country between the Wars to build up an Air Corps, virtually from scratch, and to lead that Corps in a war over a desert in the middle of South America.

Maybe he's not extremely over-looked, but I'd always like to see more on Felix Happe, Le Corsair Rouge [sp?]; the sometimes mad, always innovative strategic bomber-man.