PFF Posted 13 August , 2006 Share Posted 13 August , 2006 AS they say on TV..who's your favorite Ace and plane? Mine is Captain James McCudden VC and SE.5. Reasons: Starting as a mechanic McCudden was such a natural pilot-he was allegedly was an Instructor just after he completed his own flying leasons! Furthermore he not only simply shot down EA-he can analize EA tactics to the best advantage. Finally the SE.5-it wasn't a quick little scout plane as the Sopwith Camel-but like the WW II Hurricane-it was rugged and could take punishment. In reagrd to EA-I have no favorite pilot-but in regard to aircraft-I'd pick the DVII over the Triplane{For same reasons as I'd pick the S.E.5} WOuld be glad to hear everyone eles opinions> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Take on me Posted 13 August , 2006 Share Posted 13 August , 2006 I don't know about aces (although Biggles was pretty cool ) but the planes that fascinate me the most are those like the Handley Page 0/100 or Vickers Vimy (although the latter saw no service), the huge aircraft that were really the precursors of the strategic bombers of the Second World War. JGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borden Battery Posted 13 August , 2006 Share Posted 13 August , 2006 In decreasing order of interest ... here is my list. Borden Battery William George Barker - World War I Fighter Ace A simple website summarizing the military life of this oft forgotten Canadian pilot who was one of the most decorated men of the Great War. A recommended book by W. Ralph is "BARKER VC" by Vanwell Publishers. [CEF Study Group - Nov 2005] http://www.constable.ca/barker.htm Alfred Clayburn Atkey - World War I Fighter Ace Alfred Clayburn Atkey was the highest scoring two-seater pilot of World War I. In May of 1918, Captain Atkey and Lieutenant Gass, as a team shot down 29 enemy aircraft in less than one month. In an epic dogfight known as "Two Against Twenty," Atkey and Gass, together with John Gurdon and his observer, John Thornton, encountered 20 German scouts during the evening of May 7, 1918. In the battle that followed, Atkey and Gass shot down five enemy aircraft. [CEF Study Group - Dec 2005] http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/atkey.html Raymond Collishaw - World War I Fighter Ace A simple website with a short overview history of a Canadian fighter pilot. Collishaw flew "Black Maria" a Sopwith Triplane from "Black Flight" of 10 Naval RNAS. He remained with the RAF after the Great War, was active in the Second World War with the RAF and finally retired again to Canada. [CEF Study Group - Nov 2005] http://www.constable.ca/abolishment Captain Albert Ball - VC, DSO, MC This elegant website contains a detailed summary of Captain Albert Ball of the Royal Flying Corps. There is a detailed listing of aircraft flown, aircraft shot down, flight history, memorabilia, extensive photographs of Captain Ball and recollections from others. [CEF Study Group - June 2005] http://www.albertball.homestead.com/ Donald Roderick MacLaren - World War I Fighter Ace Donald MacLaren, the third most successful Canadian ace of the war after Bishop and Collishaw, had 54 kills - 43 coming in just over four months. He was the master of the Sopwith Camel aircraft. [CEF Study Group - Nov 2005] http://www.constable.ca/maclaren.html The Flying Career of William Avery Bishop A short summary of the actions and events associated with William (Billy) Bishop and the awarding of the Victoria Cross. (From the Canadian Air Force Office of Public Affairs, courtesy Capt. Darach McDonnell, Air Command Webmaster, webmaster@www.achq.dnd.ca)[CEF Study Group - June 2006] http://www.gwpda.org/comment/bishop.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 14 August , 2006 Share Posted 14 August , 2006 Without a doubt it has to be McCudden and so by default the SE5a. McCudden thought Voss was the best adversary and so I have much respect for him too. Also have much admiration for the DVII and aesthetically I like the Eindecker (and Bolke). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonM Posted 14 August , 2006 Share Posted 14 August , 2006 Lanoe George Hawker: DH2 (or Bristol Scout!) No Contest! Simon Moody Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_a Posted 14 August , 2006 Share Posted 14 August , 2006 I have always admired Voss with his Fokker, as well as Arthur Rhys Davids in the SE, but I have to side with the above and say that McCudden has it. As Ralph Barker put it, he was the "seasoned professional". All well known men but I'm sure that there were more of whom I have never heard but are all the same worthy. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vervos Posted 14 August , 2006 Share Posted 14 August , 2006 In decreasing order of interest ... here is my list. Borden Battery William George Barker - World War I Fighter Ace A simple website summarizing the military life of this oft forgotten Canadian pilot who was one of the most decorated men of the Great War. A recommended book by W. Ralph is "BARKER VC" by Vanwell Publishers. [CEF Study Group - Nov 2005] http://www.constable.ca/barker.htm Alfred Clayburn Atkey - World War I Fighter Ace Alfred Clayburn Atkey was the highest scoring two-seater pilot of World War I. In May of 1918, Captain Atkey and Lieutenant Gass, as a team shot down 29 enemy aircraft in less than one month. In an epic dogfight known as "Two Against Twenty," Atkey and Gass, together with John Gurdon and his observer, John Thornton, encountered 20 German scouts during the evening of May 7, 1918. In the battle that followed, Atkey and Gass shot down five enemy aircraft. [CEF Study Group - Dec 2005] http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/atkey.html Raymond Collishaw - World War I Fighter Ace A simple website with a short overview history of a Canadian fighter pilot. Collishaw flew "Black Maria" a Sopwith Triplane from "Black Flight" of 10 Naval RNAS. He remained with the RAF after the Great War, was active in the Second World War with the RAF and finally retired again to Canada. [CEF Study Group - Nov 2005] http://www.constable.ca/abolishment Captain Albert Ball - VC, DSO, MC This elegant website contains a detailed summary of Captain Albert Ball of the Royal Flying Corps. There is a detailed listing of aircraft flown, aircraft shot down, flight history, memorabilia, extensive photographs of Captain Ball and recollections from others. [CEF Study Group - June 2005] http://www.albertball.homestead.com/ Donald Roderick MacLaren - World War I Fighter Ace Donald MacLaren, the third most successful Canadian ace of the war after Bishop and Collishaw, had 54 kills - 43 coming in just over four months. He was the master of the Sopwith Camel aircraft. [CEF Study Group - Nov 2005] http://www.constable.ca/maclaren.html The Flying Career of William Avery Bishop A short summary of the actions and events associated with William (Billy) Bishop and the awarding of the Victoria Cross. (From the Canadian Air Force Office of Public Affairs, courtesy Capt. Darach McDonnell, Air Command Webmaster, webmaster@www.achq.dnd.ca)[CEF Study Group - June 2006] http://www.gwpda.org/comment/bishop.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vervos Posted 14 August , 2006 Share Posted 14 August , 2006 Pity his date of birth is wrong. It was 14/08/96. Not 16/08/96. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vervos Posted 14 August , 2006 Share Posted 14 August , 2006 Albert Ball: may we all wish you the correct Happy Birthday. Hodie!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regulus 1 Posted 15 August , 2006 Share Posted 15 August , 2006 Ace : Alexander Zenses Plane : Junkers DI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will O'Brien Posted 15 August , 2006 Share Posted 15 August , 2006 I'm a Lothar von Richthofen fan myself. His kill ratio to flying time made him statistically more lethal than his more famous brother. Lothar was unfortunate that his style of flying also led to him spending large amounts of time in hospital recovering from wounds or the effects of crashing. I don't know a great deal about the aeroplanes of the Great War but I've always considered the Sopwith Camel to be one of the best of it's era Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borden Battery Posted 15 August , 2006 Share Posted 15 August , 2006 Who is "Alexander Zenses" and tell us more about him. Borden Battery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regulus 1 Posted 16 August , 2006 Share Posted 16 August , 2006 Zenses was a Vizeflugmeister with the II Marine Feldjagdstaffel. Very little is known about him unfortunately. He had his first victory on the 5th of June 1918. By 29 July he had 7 official and one unconfirmed victory. WIA on the 1st August he returned at the end of September, scored his 8th on the 25th of the same month and his 19th on 27 October 1918. Which is 19 confirmed victories in not even 3 months time ! Not many aces can say that ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Smith Posted 16 August , 2006 Share Posted 16 August , 2006 My favorite aces: Werner Voss Raoul Lufberry Ernst Udet William Barker This list is subject to change depending on what kind of mood I am in and what projects I am currently working on. My favorite planes: Albatros DV Pfalz DIII & DIIIa Nieuport 28 Of course, being an artist I don't base this list on the planes' performances, but rather how aesthetically pleasing they are. These 3 top my list. russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyvulcan Posted 16 August , 2006 Share Posted 16 August , 2006 Favourites: Voss / Fokker Dr1 (His final battle had me awestruck as a kid!) Also: Ball, McCudden, Jacobs / Camel, SE5A, Fokker DVII, Albatros DVa Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audax Posted 16 August , 2006 Share Posted 16 August , 2006 Drummer in the Church Lads' Brigade; extreme Socialist - 'The Ace with One Eye' Major Mick Mannock VC, DSO (2 bars) MC (1 bar) RFC & RAF (1889-1918). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan Posted 16 August , 2006 Share Posted 16 August , 2006 Well I'd have to say Australia's Ace of Aces Roderic Stanley Dallas DSO DSC* CdeG (avec palm) and 49 victories (at least!) . All round nice guy, inspirational leader, wrote a booklet on tactics, flew brilliantly (most of his victories were on the Sopwith Triplane), great shot, looked after his men and deliberately walked into a trap to rescue some poor neophyte who probably didn't even know anybody else was in the air - an action which cost him his life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFF Posted 9 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 9 November , 2006 Roderic Dallas--Not even a Victoria Cross or a mentioned in Dispatches?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainbase Posted 9 November , 2006 Share Posted 9 November , 2006 One of my very favorite Great war pilots is A. G. Lee, just on the basis of his first book, No Parachute. When I was 11 or 12 years old, the paperback (the one with the Pup diving) made it onto my Christmas wish list and I still make it a point to reread his account every couple of years. No single book has put me in the cockpit the way this one has; i love it. Oddly, I'd never read Yeates' Winged Victory until now (I'm right in the middle) and the fact that it picks up in RFC 46 Squadron seemingly right about the time Lee had left is something I just find fascinating. So anyway, Lee get's my vote for a favorite pilot. My favorite crate? hands down: Spad 13! Just gimme a Spads and point me towards the front..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 9 November , 2006 Share Posted 9 November , 2006 Favourites? British - McCudden - Sheer Killer L Hawker - Best shot of WW1 and sadly a victim of Von Richthofen US - Frank Luke Jnr - Mad Balloon Buster. Hobby - dressing as girl and visiting bars - Unique !!!! German - Immelman - Innovator in a flying bedstead. French - Would have to look them up as I can't remember how to spell their names from memory...... Aircraft - SE5a. Without doubt best fighter of WW1. Gunner Bailey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 9 November , 2006 Share Posted 9 November , 2006 Snoopy and his kennel! Raymond Collishaw and the Sopwith Triplane Manfred von Richthofen and the Fokker Triplane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan Posted 10 November , 2006 Share Posted 10 November , 2006 Roderic Dallas--Not even a Victoria Cross or a mentioned in Dispatches?? Actually he was recommended for a VC for another action (for which he eventually got the DSO) and he had at least one MID, not to mention his DSC and Bar and C de G avec Palme. Read his biography - according to the reviews you'll end up feeling like I do about him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdarley Posted 10 November , 2006 Share Posted 10 November , 2006 [ French - Would have to look them up as I can't remember how to spell their names from memory...... Aircraft - SE5a. Without doubt best fighter of WW1. Gunner Bailey Yes, lets hear it for the French! Georges Guynemer, stick thin and flying dodgy aircraft as his new one wasn't ready! Led the [/i]Cigognes and one day just flew away. Favourite aircraft ... the Nieuport.. such great colour schemes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerrymurland Posted 10 November , 2006 Share Posted 10 November , 2006 James McCudden and SE.5 Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vb136 Posted 24 November , 2006 Share Posted 24 November , 2006 Jean-Pierre Bourjade of SPA 152, and the SPAD XIII Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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