Why is he your favorite ace?

[rexee]

Donald Roderick MacLaren whom i had the pleasure to meet
rexee

[Mode One]

I don't know! I'm a little brother, also. He survived the war, but died flying. Remember, in German, it is pronounced Low-Tar!

[Willi Von Klugerman]

Kurt Wolff,because he seemed to be one heck of a guy,one of those people you had to hang out with!

What was that story when the Jasta 11 members played a prank on the guys in an HQ?I believe Wolff was on the roof shooting flares.

[cvalk]

Chock said it beautifully in post 4. Of all the aces, Mannock's essential humanity -- warts and all -- truly burns through the "mists of time" as they say. He was also a master tactician and teacher. Peter Hart devotes a good portion of his excellent "Aces Falling" to Mannock. He points out that unlike most of the other great Allied aces, more so than even McCudden, Mannock was an "English Richthofen" who was a shepard to the pilots in his care and a thoughtful warrior who focused on improving his squadron's effectiveness at defeating the enemy rather than increasing his individual score.

[Willi Von Klugerman]

Fritz Otto Bernert is also another favorite of mine.He was obviously a strong fellow as he flew with only his right arm.When he was in the army,his left arm was struck by a bayonet which severed a major nerve,making his arm useless.
He joined the air service (while hiding his disability) and was accepted.He then went to be an ace with 24 victories and awarded the Blue Max!

The fact that he flew with practically with one arm is amazing as we all know how difficult it is to fly those old birds!

[Nacho]

Originally Posted by Willi Von Klugerman

Fritz Otto Bernert is also another favorite of mine.He was obviously a strong fellow as he flew with only his right arm.When he was in the army,his left arm was struck by a bayonet which severed a major nerve,making his arm useless.
He joined the air service (while hiding his disability) and was accepted.He then went to be an ace with 24 victories and awarded the Blue Max!

The fact that he flew with practically with one arm is amazing as we all know how difficult it is to fly those old birds!

I didnt know there was another pilot who fooled the doctors. I thought Mick was the only one. I wonder how many others did something like what these 2 guys did.

[cvalk]

Originally Posted by rexee

Donald Roderick MacLaren whom i had the pleasure to meet
rexee

Rexee -- That must have been something! When and and how did you meet him? Did he say anything about his experiences in the air? Thanks, Chris

[ivstefano]

McCudden, for his 19 captured aircraft… No doubt about these victories – captured aircraft is no OOC or ‘unconfirmed’…

By the way – I think he is the top ace of all times in ‘captured’ – correct me if I am wrong…

Cheers!

[Barrett]

I'm a big-big fan of Mac, but the "captured" category is rawther imprecise, like so many RFC/RAF terms. In some instances you could crank it up and fly it. In others you could put it in a cardboard box.

[Terrencejones]

Originally Posted by cvalk

Chock said it beautifully in post 4. Of all the aces, Mannock's essential humanity -- warts and all -- truly burns through the "mists of time" as they say. He was also a master tactician and teacher. Peter Hart devotes a good portion of his excellent "Aces Falling" to Mannock. He points out that unlike most of the other great Allied aces, more so than even McCudden, Mannock was an "English Richthofen" who was a shepard to the pilots in his care and a thoughtful warrior who focused on improving his squadron's effectiveness at defeating the enemy rather than increasing his individual score.

Another Mannock fan here. A genuine guy, never afraid to speak his mind or admit his failings. If there hadn't have been a war he could possibly have gone into politcs campaigning for the less fortunate. A true hero.

PS. I doubt he would be too happy being compared to that trophy collecting vain little man with the red Triplane