List of World War I aces credited with 20 or more victories

The term "ace" (now commonly flying ace) was first used by French newspapers during World War I, describing Adolphe Pégoud as l'as (the ace), after he downed five German aircraft. When aircraft began to shoot or force down other aircraft, systems to count "air victories" were subsequently developed. The American qualification of five victories eventually became the standard, even though other air services had previously used differing figures.^[1]

While "ace" status was most often won by fighter pilots, bomber and reconnaissance crews, and observers in two-seater aircraft such as the Bristol F.2b (Bristol Fighter), also destroyed enemy aircraft. If a two-seater aircraft destroyed an aircraft, both crew members were credited with a victory. Because pilots usually teamed with differing observer/gunners in two-seater aircraft, an observer might be an ace when his pilot was not, and vice versa.^[2] The few aces among combat aviators have historically accounted for the majority of air-to-air victories in military history.^[3]

Loss of records by mischance and the passage of time complicates reconstructing the actual count for given aces. The scores presented in the list cannot be definitive, but are based on itemized lists that are the best available sources of information.^[4] Aces are listed after verifying the date and location of combat, and the foe vanquished, for every victory accredited by an aviator's home air service using their own aerial victory standards. Those victories for which the evidence is unavailable or fragmentary have been excluded from the victory count.

List of World War I aces by victory count:

+20
15–19
11–14
10
9
8
7
6
5

|}

Top

Notes[]

^ Speculation about Bishop's claims, particularly his 2 June 1917 mission which earned him a Victoria Cross (VC), have persisted.^[76]
^ Although various claim-by-claim analyses ascribe Dallas a score of 32 aircraft shot down,^[77]^[78] he was officially credited with 39,^[79]^[80] and his actual tally could number in the 50s.^[78]
^ May be 31.^[81]

=== Bibliography ===

Dunnigan, James F. (2003). How to Make War: A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty-first Century. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-060090-12-8.
Durkota, Allen; Darcey, Thomas; Kulikov, Victor (1995). The Imperial Russian Air Service: Famous Pilots and Aircraft of World War I. Mountain View: Flying Machines Press. ISBN 978-0-060090-12-8.
Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell (1993). Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
Franks, Norman (2005). Sopwith Pup Aces of World War I. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-841768-86-1.
Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell; Alegi, Gregory (1997). Above the War Fronts: The British Two-seater Bomber Pilot and Observer Aces, the British Two-seater Fighter Observer Aces, and the Belgian, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Fighter Aces, 1914–1918. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-56-5.
Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W. (1992). Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-54-0.
Guttman, Jon (2009). Pusher Aces of World War 1. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-846034-17-6.
Guttman, Jon (2001). Spad VII Aces of World War I: Volume 39 of Aircraft of the Aces. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-841762-22-7.
Kulikov, Victor (2013). Russian Aces of World War 1: Aircraft of the Aces. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-780960-61-6.
Newton, Dennis (1996). Australian Air Aces: Australian Fighter Pilots in Combat. Motorbooks International. ISBN 978-1-875671-25-0.
Pieters, Walter M. (1998). Above Flanders Fields: A Complete Record of the Belgian Fighter Pilots and Their Units During the Great War. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-83-1.
Shores, Christopher (2001). British and Empire Aces of World War I. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-377-4.
Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
Shores, Christopher; Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell (1996). Above the Trenches Supplement: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces. Oxford: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-39-8.

References[]

↑ Maksel, Rebecca (7 April 2008). "What does it take to become an "ace"?". Need to Know. Air & Space Magazine. http://www.airspacemag.com/need-to-know/Aces_High.html. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
↑ Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. p. 10.
↑ How to Make War, p. 149.
↑ Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. p. 7
↑ ^5.00 ^5.01 ^5.02 ^5.03 ^5.04 ^5.05 ^5.06 ^5.07 ^5.08 ^5.09 ^5.10 ^5.11 ^5.12 ^5.13 ^5.14 ^5.15 ^5.16 ^5.17 ^5.18 ^5.19 ^5.20 ^5.21 ^5.22 ^5.23 ^5.24 ^5.25 ^5.26 ^5.27 Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 241–242
↑ Guttman, 2002. p. 20
↑ ^7.00 ^7.01 ^7.02 ^7.03 ^7.04 ^7.05 ^7.06 ^7.07 ^7.08 ^7.09 ^7.10 ^7.11 ^7.12 ^7.13 ^7.14 ^7.15 ^7.16 ^7.17 ^7.18 ^7.19 ^7.20 ^7.21 ^7.22 ^7.23 ^7.24 ^7.25 ^7.26 ^7.27 ^7.28 ^7.29 ^7.30 ^7.31 ^7.32 ^7.33 ^7.34 ^7.35 ^7.36 ^7.37 ^7.38 ^7.39 ^7.40 ^7.41 ^7.42 ^7.43 ^7.44 ^7.45 ^7.46 ^7.47 ^7.48 ^7.49 ^7.50 ^7.51 ^7.52 ^7.53 ^7.54 ^7.55 ^7.56 ^7.57 ^7.58 ^7.59 ^7.60 ^7.61 ^7.62 ^7.63 ^7.64 ^7.65 ^7.66 ^7.67 Shores, 2001. p. 89
↑ Shores, Frank, Guest 1990, pp. 255-256.
↑ Franks, 2004. pp. 68–69
↑ Franks, 2000. pp. 43–44
↑ Franks, 2007. p. 41
↑ See victory list in linked article; it was compiled from Above the Lines, Australian Hawk Over the Western Front,Australian Air Aces, Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War I.
↑ Franks, 2000. pp. 28–29
↑ Franks, 2000. pp. 56–58
↑ Franks, 2000. p. 51
↑ Guttman, 2007. pp. 29–31, 87
↑ ^17.0 ^17.1 ^17.2 ^17.3 Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 239
↑ Franks, 2000. p. 71
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 169–171
↑ Franks, 2000. pp. 60–61
↑ ^21.0 ^21.1 ^21.2 ^21.3 Chant, 2002. p. 90
↑ Franks, 2000. p. 76
↑ Guttman, 2002. p. 93
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 81–82
↑ Franks, 2003. pp. 12–13
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 75
↑ Guttman, 2002. pp. 65–66
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 90
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 119–120
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 153–154
↑ ^31.00 ^31.01 ^31.02 ^31.03 ^31.04 ^31.05 ^31.06 ^31.07 ^31.08 ^31.09 ^31.10 ^31.11 ^31.12 ^31.13 Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 236
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 70
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 111–112
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 142–143
↑ ^35.0 ^35.1 Franks, 2003. p. 88
↑ Franks, 2000. pp. 61–62
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 215
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 219
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 233–234
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 101–102
↑ ^41.0 ^41.1 ^41.2 Guttman, 2007. p. 87
↑ Franks, 2000. p. 74
↑ Franks, 2001. p. 86
↑ Franks, 2000. pp. 81–82
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 68
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 123–124
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 77–78
↑ ^48.0 ^48.1 Guttman, 2007. p. 88
↑ Franks, 2000. pp. 78–79
↑ Franks, 2003. p. 31
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 68–69
↑ Franks, 2000. pp. 44–45
↑ Guttman, 2002. pp. 11, 91
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 117
↑ Guttman, 2002. p. 18
↑ Franks, 2003. pp. 56–57
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 182–183
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 230–231
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 59
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 60–61
↑ Franks, 2000. pp. 76–77
↑ Shores, 2001. p. 87
↑ Franks, 2000. p. 45
↑ Guttman, 2002. p. 31–32
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 73
↑ ^66.0 ^66.1 Guttman, 2007. p. 86
↑ Franks, 2000. p. 46
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 104
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 108–109
↑ Franks, 2001. p. 88
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 118–119
↑ Franks, 2000. pp. 83–84
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp.143–144
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 186
↑ Franks, 2000. p. 79
↑ Greenhous, Brereton. "Billy Bishop - Brave Flyer, Bold Liar." Canadian Military Journal Volume 3, Issue 3, Autumn 2002, pp. 61–64. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
↑ Shores, 1990. p. 132
↑ ^78.0 ^78.1 Newton, 1996. pp. 32–34
↑ Wixted, E. P. (1981). "Dallas, Roderic Stanley (1891–1918)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080216b.htm. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
↑ Garrison, A.D. (1999). Australian Fighter Aces 1914–1953. Canberra: Air Power Development Centre. pp. 27, 51–56. ISBN 0-642-26540-2. http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/admin/ProductFiles/Publication/Materials/220/Fighteraces.pdf.
↑ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 63–64

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at List of World War I aces credited with 20 or more victories and the edit history here.

[cnote_a] Speculation about Bishop's claims, particularly his 2 June 1917 mission which earned him a Victoria Cross (VC), have persisted.^[76]

[cnote_b] Although various claim-by-claim analyses ascribe Dallas a score of 32 aircraft shot down,^[77]^[78] he was officially credited with 39,^[79]^[80] and his actual tally could number in the 50s.^[78]

[cnote_c] May be 31.^[81]

[A&S-1] Maksel, Rebecca (7 April 2008). "What does it take to become an "ace"?". Need to Know. Air & Space Magazine. http://www.airspacemag.com/need-to-know/Aces_High.html. Retrieved 20 October 2009.

[Lines2-2] Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. p. 10.

[3] How to Make War, p. 149.

[score-4] Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. p. 7

[Above_the_Lines-5] 5.00 ^5.01 ^5.02 ^5.03 ^5.04 ^5.05 ^5.06 ^5.07 ^5.08 ^5.09 ^5.10 ^5.11 ^5.12 ^5.13 ^5.14 ^5.15 ^5.16 ^5.17 ^5.18 ^5.19 ^5.20 ^5.21 ^5.22 ^5.23 ^5.24 ^5.25 ^5.26 ^5.27 Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 241–242

[6] Guttman, 2002. p. 20

[Euro_Osprey-7] 7.00 ^7.01 ^7.02 ^7.03 ^7.04 ^7.05 ^7.06 ^7.07 ^7.08 ^7.09 ^7.10 ^7.11 ^7.12 ^7.13 ^7.14 ^7.15 ^7.16 ^7.17 ^7.18 ^7.19 ^7.20 ^7.21 ^7.22 ^7.23 ^7.24 ^7.25 ^7.26 ^7.27 ^7.28 ^7.29 ^7.30 ^7.31 ^7.32 ^7.33 ^7.34 ^7.35 ^7.36 ^7.37 ^7.38 ^7.39 ^7.40 ^7.41 ^7.42 ^7.43 ^7.44 ^7.45 ^7.46 ^7.47 ^7.48 ^7.49 ^7.50 ^7.51 ^7.52 ^7.53 ^7.54 ^7.55 ^7.56 ^7.57 ^7.58 ^7.59 ^7.60 ^7.61 ^7.62 ^7.63 ^7.64 ^7.65 ^7.66 ^7.67 Shores, 2001. p. 89

[8] Shores, Frank, Guest 1990, pp. 255-256.

[9] Franks, 2004. pp. 68–69

[10] Franks, 2000. pp. 43–44

[11] Franks, 2007. p. 41

[12] See victory list in linked article; it was compiled from Above the Lines, Australian Hawk Over the Western Front,Australian Air Aces, Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War I.

[13] Franks, 2000. pp. 28–29

[14] Franks, 2000. pp. 56–58

[15] Franks, 2000. p. 51

[16] Guttman, 2007. pp. 29–31, 87

[Above_the_Lines239-17] 17.0 ^17.1 ^17.2 ^17.3 Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 239

[18] Franks, 2000. p. 71

[19] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 169–171

[20] Franks, 2000. pp. 60–61

[Chant-21] 21.0 ^21.1 ^21.2 ^21.3 Chant, 2002. p. 90

[22] Franks, 2000. p. 76

[23] Guttman, 2002. p. 93

[24] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 81–82

[25] Franks, 2003. pp. 12–13

[26] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 75

[27] Guttman, 2002. pp. 65–66

[28] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 90

[29] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 119–120

[30] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 153–154

[Above_the_Lines236-31] 31.00 ^31.01 ^31.02 ^31.03 ^31.04 ^31.05 ^31.06 ^31.07 ^31.08 ^31.09 ^31.10 ^31.11 ^31.12 ^31.13 Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 236

[32] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 70

[33] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 111–112

[34] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 142–143

[Franks,_2003-35] 35.0 ^35.1 Franks, 2003. p. 88

[36] Franks, 2000. pp. 61–62

[37] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 215

[38] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 219

[39] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 233–234

[40] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 101–102

[Guttman2007-87-41] 41.0 ^41.1 ^41.2 Guttman, 2007. p. 87

[42] Franks, 2000. p. 74

[43] Franks, 2001. p. 86

[44] Franks, 2000. pp. 81–82

[45] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 68

[46] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 123–124

[47] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 77–78

[Guttman2007-48] 48.0 ^48.1 Guttman, 2007. p. 88

[49] Franks, 2000. pp. 78–79

[50] Franks, 2003. p. 31

[51] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 68–69

[52] Franks, 2000. pp. 44–45

[53] Guttman, 2002. pp. 11, 91

[54] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 117

[55] Guttman, 2002. p. 18

[56] Franks, 2003. pp. 56–57

[57] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 182–183

[58] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 230–231

[59] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 59

[60] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 60–61

[61] Franks, 2000. pp. 76–77

[62] Shores, 2001. p. 87

[63] Franks, 2000. p. 45

[64] Guttman, 2002. p. 31–32

[65] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 73

[Guttman2007-86-66] 66.0 ^66.1 Guttman, 2007. p. 86

[67] Franks, 2000. p. 46

[68] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 104

[69] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 108–109

[70] Franks, 2001. p. 88

[71] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 118–119

[72] Franks, 2000. pp. 83–84

[73] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp.143–144

[74] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 186

[75] Franks, 2000. p. 79

[76] Greenhous, Brereton. "Billy Bishop - Brave Flyer, Bold Liar." Canadian Military Journal Volume 3, Issue 3, Autumn 2002, pp. 61–64. Retrieved 15 November 2009.

[77] Shores, 1990. p. 132

[Newton-78] 78.0 ^78.1 Newton, 1996. pp. 32–34

[79] Wixted, E. P. (1981). "Dallas, Roderic Stanley (1891–1918)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080216b.htm. Retrieved 16 August 2009.

[80] Garrison, A.D. (1999). Australian Fighter Aces 1914–1953. Canberra: Air Power Development Centre. pp. 27, 51–56. ISBN 0-642-26540-2. http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/admin/ProductFiles/Publication/Materials/220/Fighteraces.pdf.

[81] Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 63–64

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[a]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[d]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43]

[44]

[45]

[46]

[47]

[48]

[49]

[50]

[51]

[52]

[53]

[54]

[55]

[56]

[57]

[58]

[59]

[60]

[61]

[62]

[63]

[64]

[65]

[66]

[67]

[68]

[69]

[70]

[71]

[72]

[73]

[74]

[75]

[76]

[77]

[78]

[79]

[80]

[81]