Whos Who of Who shot down Who

[hmsk212]

Hi, Is there a definitive publication that covers both sides and contains a list of who was shot down by whom during WW1 ? If there isn't, I would be grateful of any recommendations as to works that contain any form of detailed lists etc. Steve

[John(txic)]

I remember a book by Norman Franks: "Who downed the aces in WW1" or similar.

[spconnolly007]

Far from definitive, but this site has proved useful in the past. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/index.php

Regards,

Sean.

[Guest exuser1]

Many titles published by Grub Street covering most of the theaters and forces involved.

[centurion]

I very much doubt that a definitive work is possible. In many cases the identity of the person who shot down another pilot is still a matter of significant controversy with many alternative 'claimants'. In some cases the fate of the airman is simply unknown and now will probably never be uncovered - they and their aircraft vanished. When a number of aircraft were involved in a melee even the person who did the shooting down may not have known it was them. In some cases the person officially credited may be wrong (some aces on both sides often deliberately gave the credit of their kill to a new pilot in order to give them confidence)

[Grovetown]

As alluded above, there is nothing definitive, a lot of uncertainty (for example, I was researching an RFC casualty that matched three separate German claims) and some controversy (that the RFC wildly over-claimed etc). That said, the four books (IMHO) in combination that would get you closest are:

The Sky Their Battlefield by Trevor Henshaw (of this place);

Above the Trenches by Christopher Shores, Norman Franks and Russell Guest;

The Jasta Pilots by Norman Franks, Frank Bailey and Rick Duiven; and

Casualties of the German Air Service, also by Franks, Bailey and Duiven.

Cheers,

GT.

[fetubi]

As GT mentions, in my original The Sky Their Battlefield, which although it centred fairly much on the British/Allies casualties side of the story, I recall there were about 2,000 separate attributions linking German records of claims with the British records of loss. Uncertainty still pervades some areas of the subject, for several reasons, but research continues to make progess, in my view.

Regards,

Trevor

[hmsk212]

Hi, Many thanks one and all for your replies, at least I now know in which direction I should be looking. Cheers Steve

[nils d]

Hi, Is there a definitive publication that covers both sides and contains a list of who was shot down by whom during WW1 ? If there isn't, I would be grateful of any recommendations as to works that contain any form of detailed lists etc. Steve

The book you want is here on my bookshelf next to "Next weeks lottery results"

[hmsk212]

Hi,

Finally managed to get hold of a decent copy of Trevor's book, excellent indeed, have also obtained copies of Above the Trenches and Casualties of the German Air Service so my library is a bit more complete. Thanks for the recommendations.

Steve