Modern aces

On 10 Jan 2004 02:45:01 GMT, (JDupre5762) wrote:

Certainly the RIO deserves credit.

In WWI fighters, especiallly the early ones, the gunner was the man
who shot down the enemy aircraft, and he was credited with the kill
along with the pilot.

Having demonstrated their quick reflexes and immunity to air sickness,
some (perhaps many) of these men were re-trained as pilots. (It didn't
take long--a few weeks, with due allowance for England's unfriendly
flying weather.)

all the best -- Dan Ford
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see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

(JDupre5762) wrote in message ...
Associate asked interesting question.

Is there any kind of listing of "modern" jet aces? And are any of those
in service today?

I'd guess best bet are the Israelis. Elsewhere some are from Vietnam
(US, Vietnam, Russian?) and what else?

jok

There are several websites and a number of books. The Israelis have over 35
pilots who qualify as ace with scores from 5 to 17. There last ace probably
qualfied in the early 1980's. Some of them are certainly still in the reserves
if not active duty. Giora Even who scored 17 was still flying reserve fighter
missions in the F-16 in his late 50s just a few years ago.

There are apparently quite a number of aces in Iran from the war against Iraq.
I am not sure how historians or other experts greet their claims which are
apparently only recently known in the west.

The US had two pilot aces in Vietnam, one Navy and one Air Force each claiming
five and three Weapons Officers two Air Force and one Navy. As important as
the rear seater is in a two seat fighter aircraft there is to me something a
little disengenuous about crediting them as aces. For example both Navy aces
flew together as a team. To compare their claims at first glance it seems they
downed ten aircraft together and there is a photo of thier aircraft with ten
victory markings but in fact together they only destroyed five.

This is more than likely the score of all of VF-96 that you're seeing
displayed, not just Cunningham and Driscoll's score.

~Michael

To compare their claims at first glance it seems they
downed ten aircraft together and there is a photo of thier aircraft with
ten
victory markings but in fact together they only destroyed five.


This is more than likely the score of all of VF-96 that you're seeing
displayed, not just Cunningham and Driscoll's score.

From: (Michael)

Thanks, that would explain it. I found the photo and it actually shows 8
Vietnamese flags on the right hand splitter plate with Cunningham and Driscoll
in their respective seats.

John Dupre'