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There are a number of reasons why Germany's highest-scoring pilots shot down many more aircraft than the most successful Allied pilots. During the first years of the war, German day fighter pilots tended to enjoy favourable tactical circumstances; for instance, during the Battle of Britain British pilots generally tried to attack the German bombers rather than the fighters protecting them.
Theodor "Theo" Osterkamp (15 April 1892 – 2 January 1975) [2] was a German fighter pilot during World War I and World War II.A flying ace, he achieved 32 victories in World War I. [3] In World War II, he led Jagdgeschwader 51 up to the Battle of Britain and claimed a further six victories during World War II, in the process becoming one of only a few men to score victories and become an ace ...
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. [1] German day and night fighter pilots claimed roughly 70,000 aerial victories during World War II, 25,000 over British or American and 45,000 over Soviet flown aircraft. 103 German fighter pilots shot down more than 100 enemy aircraft for a total of roughly 15,400 ...
It is relatively certain that 2,500 German fighter pilots attained ace status, having achieved at least five aerial victories. [81] [82] These achievements were honored with 453 German single and twin-engine (Messerschmitt Bf 110) day-fighter pilots receiving the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Intense personal rivalry may have played an ...
On 18 occasions he survived being shot down, and according to records in the German Federal Archives, he claimed to have shot down 228 enemy aircraft and was credited with 208 aerial victories, 16 of which were in a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. Sources credit him with 220 – 96 on Eastern Theatre and 124 on Western Theatre – up to 222 ...
Mayer was the first fighter pilot to score 100 victories entirely on the Western Front. Born in Konstanz , Mayer, volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1937. Following flight training he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) in 1939.
Josef "Pips" Priller (German:; 27 July 1915 – 20 May 1961) was a German military aviator and wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War II.As a fighter ace, he was credited with 101 enemy aircraft shot down in 307 combat missions.
On 1 May 1938, he attended a Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school). On 1 July 1938, Bauer was assigned to the VI. On 1 July 1938, Bauer was assigned to the VI. Gruppe (4th group) of Jagdgeschwader 132 "Richthofen" (JG 132–132nd Fighter Wing) as a fighter pilot.