The Greatest!!!!

[gregoire]

The most sucessfull was Renee Fonk (I agree he was a a.....e ) but he was a great pilot an he certainly shoot more plane than anybody else (I still believe his real score is over 100).

The Greatest was Georges Marie Ludovic Jules Guynemer (for a proof look at the top of the page)
he was the best followed by Ball and MvR

[stephen]

Tribute to the French:

From all accounts, Foncke had no marksmanship or flying ability over Luke. Caution, perhaps, but not skill. Nevertheless, I tip my hat.

Guynemer, however, was another story. In his own way I believe he was among the few to demonstrate courage equal to Luke, especially given Guynemer's health difficulties. He was shot down seven times and never flinched, and could have used his health as an excuse to fly a desk whenever he wanted. That certainly counts for something.

I think its fair to say that Voss can me mentioned in the same breath as Luke, too (and its a very short list). Not cheating the Commonwealth nations here - we just talk about them all the time.

[WFS]

Guynemer was certainly a great and courageous fighter. But, I'm not sure that getting shot down that many times qualifies him as a great pilot.

As Hartney said Luke was the perfect combination of a great pilot and a great marksman. Those skills along raw courage, determination and tenacity raise him above all whose greatness is measured only by numbers of victories over periods of months and years.

Regards,
Wayne

[stephen]

Agreed, Wayne. Getting shot down seven times does not make one a great pilot. It does, however, prove one's courage.

BTW, you'll find me the biggest Luke supporter on the web.

[WFS]

Stephen,

ANY FRIEND OF MY BOYHOOD HEROS' IS A FRIEND OF MINE.

Even if he did come flying up out of the pack and beat me to a third star! *Maybe I should have broken up some of those marathon posts of mine. Congrats.

Very Best Regards,
Wayne

Thorbjorn, I hope you know that Russia WAS PART of the allies... So don't get too carried away with yourself there (just kidding with ya)

But yes Germany had some excellent pilots, though we can not go by sheer numbers of confirmed kills.

Shooter, in regards to your idolization of FLJ, I am totally with you on that. The more I read about the man the more I respect him.

John

If I had to list my favorite pilots of WW1, both Allied and Central powers, it would have to be:

Frank Luke, Jr.
Albert Ball
Mick Mannock
Manfred von Richtoffen
Eddie Rickenbacker

By the way, anyone seen the old black and white movie All's Quiet on the Western Front? If you have, could you tell me if the main character was really called " Paul Bäumer?" Because Paul Bäumer didn't die in the war, as did the "Paul Bäumer" in the movie (the famous scene where you see a hand reach towards a butterfly smack in the middle of No Man's Land [after Bäumer is supposedly shot down...], then you hear the report of a rifle and the hand convulses and curls closed in death)... or perhaps I am getting two movies mixed up. It's been a long time since I've seen a good WW1 air combat movie (Wings and AQOTWF being my fav's). Also, anyone seen The Big Parade? Kinda off topic I know... but I saw it one sunday night a few years back on AMC. It was corny as anything but entertaining

John

[Amy]

BTW, you'll find me the biggest Luke supporter on the web. *

Hey! *What am I? *Chopped liver?!

Ah-hem, another big Luke supporter-->Amy

[Amy]

By the way, anyone seen the old black and white movie All's Quiet on the Western Front? If you have, could you tell me if the main character was really called " Paul Bäumer?" Because Paul Bäumer didn't die in the war, as did the "Paul Bäumer" in the movie (the famous scene where you see a hand reach towards a butterfly smack in the middle of No Man's Land

Hi John:

Erich Maria Remarque, who authored the book All Quiet on the Western Front, was friends with the WWI ace Paul Bäumer in real life. When Bäumer died in a plane crash after the war, Remarque named the primary character in the book "Paul Bäumer" in honor of his friend.

Amy

[WFS]

Amy,

Its bad enough that you and Stephen pounced on me out of the sun on the SDI thread, but now you've both made two-seater before me.

Oh well, I can forgive Frank Luke supporters ALMOST anything. * *

Oh great! *You've even got me using those dumb smilies now.

Best Regards,
Wayne