German ace that shot engines instead of men

[Wufnu]

I'm going off of an old memory here, was wondering if this may ring a bell with people that know this stuff.

I seem to remember from either Red Baron or Red Baron II a description for a German ace that didn't like to kill his opponents and would attempt to shoot out the engines of his opponent first. Does anyone know who this man was? For years I'd thought it was Udet but after reading up on him tonight I haven't seen any mention of this so I'm guessing it was someone else.

[Barrett]

Having spent maybe 600 (mostly) happy hours in open-cockpit biplanes, ratracing with my flying buds, I'd say that bringing off this trick is about equal to Roy Rogers shooting the gun out of the BG's hand. I doubt that it happened intentionally very often.

But legends die hard.

[Scott Powell]

In Heroes of the Sunlighht Sky,Arch Whitehouse writes that Werner Voss is said to have dispatched two seaters ( he called them Poor Devils) by a burst in the engine compartment.
he also claims Albert ball was shot down by german machine gunners in a church tower ,as the yset a trap for him because he dropped down to check the time wehn going home from patrol,so take it with a grain of salt

[tcrean7828]

I'll throw my two cents into the ring and say it was most probably Werner Voss.

As to all that I have come across in the last 2 years points to him. I'll post some references when I have a moment to look them up.

But you never know, I might be wrong as well as all of the sources that I have gandered at up to now.

cul

tcrean7828

tom

[tengew]

I had heard of a pilot that mounted a rifle to the wing struts and would aim and take out planes with one shot
I remember reading that somewhere but cant remember
What I do remember is he would aim for the pilot and drop the plane that way
Any one else read this ???????

[Romani]

Originally Posted by tengew

I had heard of a pilot that mounted a rifle to the wing struts and would aim and quotake out planes with one shot
I remember reading that somewhere but cant remember
What I do remember is he would aim for the pilot and drop the plane that way
Any one else read this ???????

On the wargame "Aces High" by Simulation games, comes this tidbit about rifles being used early in the war

"Should this seem like John Wayne markmanship, reflect on Major Lanoe Hawker of 24 Squadron. He wouldhave a hunting rifle srtapped to the struts of his unarmed Bristol Scout, operated by a length of twine reaching into the cockpit. He brought down at least three of his King's enmemies like that, each with a single bullet through the pilot's head"

In general, shooting at other aircraft seems to have been a "spray and pray" affair, but there were certain pilots, most notably Fonck, wich were able to target the pilot, or the engine. I also have read that the Allied roundels made a very good aiming reference, you aimed between them, and you would hit the pilot. Though I don't doubt this was tried, and I've read an account of a Allied pilot doing the same to a German aircraft using the wing crosses as references, I still think actually hitting a particular spot was more a matter of luck than anything else.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Wufnu

I'm going off of an old memory here, was wondering if this may ring a bell with people that know this stuff.

I seem to remember from either Red Baron or Red Baron II a description for a German ace that didn't like to kill his opponents and would attempt to shoot out the engines of his opponent first. Does anyone know who this man was? For years I'd thought it was Udet but after reading up on him tonight I haven't seen any mention of this so I'm guessing it was someone else.

I was under the impression that this might have been Carl DEGELOT of Jasta 40.

[Epee]

I remember reading that about Voss. Supposedly he had sympathy for 2-seater crews. I believe the story MAY have some basis in fact.

If you consider an attack against an unware Fe2b shooting out the engine would not seem that hard, easier perhaps than shooting the crew. Easing up behind a pusher, in the low six-o'clock position until the range was minimal, smashing the engine would seem simple even if under unusual conditions.

[tcrean7828]

Originally Posted by Epee

I remember reading that about Voss. Supposedly he had sympathy for 2-seater crews. I believe the story MAY have some basis in fact.

If you consider an attack against an unware Fe2b shooting out the engine would not seem that hard, easier perhaps than shooting the crew. Easing up behind a pusher, in the low six-o'clock position until the range was minimal, smashing the engine would seem simple even if under unusual conditions.

Epee,
Here is some more fuel for your fire: The Werner Voss strategy from his experience!

Most fighter pilots do not like attacking the FE directly from the front, but this very method of attack is the most advantageous for us against the FE since the enemy has the least protection in front, while our fighter pilots have good protection because of the engine. With this last type of attack, it is absolutely essential for the fighter pilot to keep himself below the enemy airplane and not fly over the latter, under any circumstances.” ’Hunting with Richthofen’ translated by Jan Hayzlett – pg 46; ‘September Evening’ by Barry Diggins – pg 65-66.

cul

tcrean7828

tom

[austin08]

I think Rick has this one - Carl Degelow did not like to shoot down his opponents if he could force them down - Says as much in his memoirs - "Germany's last knight of the air" by Peter Kilduff . Also as noted in other posts he assisted Willi Rothenstein & others out of Germany in dangerous times- a genuine hero & a genuine gentleman