What is a triple ace?

Anderson flew 116 combat missions as a fighter pilot and leader with the 357th Fighter Group during WWII. He shot down 16 ¼ enemy aircraft during combat in his P-51 Mustang, earning the title, “triple ace.” The term 'Ace' is used to describe a fighter pilot who has been credited with shooting down five enemy aircraft.

How many kills is an ace?

A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually considered to be five or more.

What makes a pilot an ace?

The term 'ace' is generally taken to mean any fighter pilot credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft. Lone aerial combat provided an outlet for acts of personal bravery. The aces were seen as chivalrous heroes engaged in honest and impressive one-to-one fighting.

Was Robin Olds a triple ace?

General Olds is rated a triple ace, having shot down a total of 17 enemy aircraft during World War II and the Vietnam War.

Who was the deadliest ace?

Erich Alfred Hartmann (19 April 1922 – 20 September 1993) was a German fighter pilot during World War II and the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare.

WWII Triple Ace on Why They Beat the Luftwaffe | Bud Anderson

Who was the youngest ace?

On June 19, his 55th mission and first as an element leader (which meant he was in the shooting position), he made his first kill. His fifth victory came on June 30, 1953, making him a flying ace. He was the USAF's 36th ace and the youngest ace of the war at 24 years and 4 days.

What pilot has the most dogfight kills?

Erich “Bubi” Hartmann

Erich Hartmann is the most successful fighter pilot of all times – with 352 kills. A number that will never be surpassed. His nickname “Bubi” means “little boy” – and it's easy to find out why he was called like that.

Who was the best pilot in Vietnam?

Robin Olds (July 14, 1922 – June 14, 2007) was an American fighter pilot and general officer in the United States Air Force (USAF). He was a "triple ace", with a combined total of 17 victories in World War II and the Vietnam War. He retired in 1973 as a brigadier general, after 30 years of service.

How many aces are there in the US military?

The American Fighter Aces Association currently recognize 1,442 fighter pilots as Aces. In general, the World War I list includes those accepted by the individual services under the rules at that time.

Is there a female ace pilot?

From these emerged the world's only female fighter aces, Lydia Litvyak and Katya Budanova. Born in Moscow in 1921 Lydia (or Lilya) Litvyak began piloting light aircraft at the age of just 15.

What pilot has the most kills?

While serving in Germany's Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills.

When was the last dogfight?

According to Smithsonian Magazine, the last ever dogfight occurred in 1969 over Central America between Honduras and El Salvador. With that said, the aerial tactics used during WWII are still considered by many to have won the war.

What is the hardest pilot rating?

The airline transport pilot (ATP) is the most advanced pilot certificate one can obtain, and it's necessary for those who want to fly commercial airliners for a living.

Has an F 15 been shot down?

“The lore of the F-15—its' got 104 air-to-air kills and it's never been shot down in combat,” said Lt.

Are there any current ace pilots?

50 years ago, between May 10 and August 28, 1972 Captain Richard “Steve” Ritchie, Reidsville, NC 's native son, became the only United States Air Force pilot to achieve Ace status (*). He will likely be the last. “Ace” is the title bestowed on those downing 5 enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat.

How many US pilots were shot down in Vietnam?

United States Navy

Twenty-one aircraft carriers conducted 86 war cruises and operated 9,178 total days on the line in the Gulf of Tonkin. 532 aircraft were lost in combat and 329 more to operational causes, resulting in the deaths of 401 naval aviators, with 64 airmen reported missing and 179 taken prisoner of war.

Who flew the most missions in Vietnam?

At the time of his death, Richter had flown more missions over North Vietnam than any other airman—198 in all officially credited.

Were there any aces in the Vietnam War?

The claimed flying aces of the Vietnam War, pilots who shot down five or more enemy aircraft, include 19 North Vietnamese pilots (six MiG-17 and 13 MiG-21 pilots), and five Americans.

What is the life expectancy of a pilot in Vietnam?

Did you know the average life expectancy of a US Army Huey pilot in combat in Vietnam was only 19 minutes? Some interesting facts about UH-1 aircrew training during the Vietnam War.

Why was the F-22 Cancelled?

Although the USAF had originally planned to buy a total of 750 ATFs, the program was cut to 187 operational aircraft in 2009 due to high costs, a lack of air-to-air missions at the time of production, and the development of the more affordable and versatile F-35. The last F-22 was delivered in 2012.

Does Top Gun still exist?

TOPGUN is a nickname for what began as the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School and is now known as the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Program. Formerly located at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, TOPGUN is now located at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada.

What was the wars oddest dogfight?

One of the strangest dogfights—involving three four-engine bombers—occurred in World War II. It happened the morning of August 17, 1943, when an American B-24D Liberator encountered a pair of German Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condors over the Atlantic Ocean, about 300 miles west of Lisbon, Portugal.

What is the most feared fighter jet in the world?

1. The F-22 Raptor is one mean jet fighter. The F-22 is a beast. The F-22 Raptor is one of the world's most advanced and capable fighter jets.

What disqualifies you from being a fighter pilot?

Distant vision must be at least 20/70 uncorrected, and near vision must be 20/30 uncorrected, but both distant and near vision must be corrected to 20/20. Corrective eye surgery could disqualify a candidate from flying. Pilots also cannot have a history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12.