Who was the top American ace in ww2?
Major Richard Ira Bong
Top Image: Major Richard Bong courtesy of the US Air Force. Known as the “Ace of Aces” for his rank as the top American flying ace during World War II, Major Richard Ira Bong is credited with the downing of an impressive confirmed total of 40 enemy aircraft over the course of his career as a fighter pilot.
Who were the top aces in WWII?
Flying aces
- Erich Hartmann, highest scoring German ace.
- Ivan Kozhedub, highest scoring Soviet and highest scoring Allied ace.
- Mato Dukovac, the highest scoring Croatian ace.
- Ilmari Juutilainen, top flying ace of the Finnish Air Force and the highest scoring non-German fighter pilot of all time.
Who was the last American ace?
Cesar Antonio Rodriguez is a former United States Air Force officer and pilot who served from 1981 to 2006. With three air-to-air combat victories, he joined Thomas Dietz, Robert Hehemann, and Robert Wright (all USAF officers) as the closest to becoming an air ace than any U.S. pilot since the Vietnam War.
Which ww2 plane had the most kills?
A new book examines the life of the WWII German ace. 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.
What was the best WWII fighter aircraft?
The Focke-Wulf FW-190 was widely believed to be the best fighter aircraft of World War II. As the war went on the FW-190 was manufactured in no fewer than 40 different models.
What was the first attack by the Americans in WWII?
On 12 December 1937 the attack on the United States gunboat USS Panay by Japanese forces in China (usually referred to as the Panay incident) could be considered as the first hostile American action during World War II. Two U.S. Navy crewmen and two civilians were killed; 43 Navy crewmen and five civilians were wounded.
Who was the best fighter pilot in World War 2?
The Most Notable Fighter Aces of World War II Larry Holzwarth – October 31, 2020 Arguably the most famous fighter pilot in history, Germany’s Manfred Von Richthofen shot down 80 enemy airplanes during World War I. That total made the Red Baron the leading fighter ace of the war, with more kills than any other pilot of any nation.
Who was the first American fighter ace of WW2?
William Dunn, British Royal Air Force Squadron 71 pilot, is the first American Ace of World War II. Although Dunn was the first American ace, the title originally went to Gregory Daymond, a fellow pilot with No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron, and Dunn was not officially recognized until March 19, 1968. (Courtesy photo)