Allied Aces of WWI.

World War I was the first major conflict involving the large-scale use of aircraft as a weapon. The definition of an “Ace” fighter pilot is five or more victories or “Kills” in air combat. Ace fighter pilots were portrayed as modern knights, and many became popular heroes.

The concept of the “Ace” emerged in 1915 during WWI, at the same time as aerial dogfighting. It was a propaganda term intended to provide the home front with a cult of the hero in what was otherwise a war of attrition.

The individual actions of aces were widely reported, and the image was disseminated of the ace as a chivalrous knight reminiscent of a bygone era.

The term “Dogfight” arrived on scene during WWI as well. A “Dogfight” is defined as a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft at short range. It is the tactical art of moving, turning and situating one’s fighter aircraft to attain a position from which an attack can be made on another aircraft to score a kill.

The term “Kill” was also used during WWI to record a victory over an enemy plane in combat. All countries counted downing an enemy air ballon as an “Air-to-air” kill, with the same value as shooting down an enemy aircraft.

The Axis Powers had their “Aces” of WWI, and their most famous was Manfred Baron Von Richthofen, also known as “The Red Baron,” and the Allies had their “Aces” of WWI as well. The most famous Allied ace fighter pilot for the United States was Eddie Rickenbacker. Eddie Rickenbacker was born on October 8, 1890, in Columbus, Ohio. He was the top ace with 26 kills during WWI.

Rickenbacker commanded the 94th Aero Squadron known as the “Hat in the Ring Squadron,” for the U.S. during WWI. He was famously known for saying, “Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared.”

When Rickenbacker learned of the Armistice, he flew an airplane above the “No Man’s Land,” to observe the ceasefire as it occurred at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918. He later wrote, “I was the only audience for the greatest show ever presented. On both sides of no man’s land, the trenches erupted. Brown-uniformed men poured out of the American trenches, gray-green uniforms out of the German. From my observer’s seat overhead, I watched them throw their helmets in the air, discard their guns, wave their hands.” Rickenbacker was awarded the Medal of Honor and survived the war as a captain.

On November 1, 1927, he purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from Carl Fisher for $700,000. He operated the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for more than 10 years, overseeing many improvements to the facility. He was responsible for the first radio broadcast of the Memorial Day 500 race. After a final 500-mile race in 1941, he closed the speedway to conserve gasoline, rubber, and other resources during WWII. In 1945, Rickenbacker sold the racetrack to the businessman Anton Hulman Jr.

Rickenbacker was fond of saying, “The greatest privilege this country had to offer was the freedom to go broke, and that a chance was the only favor needed to succeed in the United States.

In July 1973, Rickenbacker traveled to Zurich, Switzerland, seeking medical treatments for his wife’s failing vision. While in Zurich, he contracted pneumonia and died on July 23, 1973, at the age of 82. He is buried in Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

Here is a list of the top Allied Aces of WWI:
 

Eddie Rickenbacker: 26 Kills.
 

William Lambert: 22 Kills. He later served during WW2 and retired as a Lt. Colonel.

Francis Gillet: 20 Kills.
 

Wilfred Beaver: 19 Kills. He served during WW2 and became a Colonel.
 

Harold Kullberg: 19 Kills. He survived the war, but was killed in a plane crash on August 5, 1924, while teaching a student pilot to fly.
 

Frank Luke: He was the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor. Luke Air Force Base, in Phoenix, Arizona, is named in his honor. Eddie Rickenbacker said of Luke, “He was the most daring aviator and greatest fighter pilot of the entire war. His life is one of the brightest glories of our Air Service. He went on a rampage and shot down 14 enemy aircraft, including 10 balloons, in eight days. No other ace, even the dreaded Richthofen, had ever come close to that.” Frank Luke was killed in action on September 29, 1918, he was 21.

Billy Bishop: Canada’s highest scoring ace with 72 kills. Canada did not have an Air Force so; he joined the RAF and flew with them. He survived the war and oversaw recruiting pilots during WW2.

Edward Mannock: A British Ace in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force. He had 61 kills, the fifth highest scoring pilot of the war. He was among the most decorated men in the British Armed Forces having received the Military Cross twice and was one of the rare three-time recipients of the Distinguished Service Order and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. He was killed in action on July 26, 1918, in France.

Rene Fonck: Was a French aviator who survived the war as the top Allied fighter ace with 75 kills. He had 72 solo and three shared kills. He holds the title of “All-time Allied Ace of Aces."