Best Luftwaffe Ace

Anders Schmidt · Post by **Anders Schmidt** » 03 Apr 2002 15:27

[Moved from the Polls section]

Who was the best Luftwaffe ace (not neccessarily in numbers, but also in tactics and strategy)?

ziggy wiseman · Post by **ziggy wiseman** » 03 Apr 2002 19:16

For me,Hans Marseille was the best

Victor · Post by **Victor** » 03 Apr 2002 20:42

Why didn't you include Hans-Joachim Marseille in your list? Oh, well, in his absence I had to vote with Hartmann...

Erich · Post by **Erich** » 03 Apr 2002 21:11

You haven't mentioned night fighter aces..... ? Are these brave men included as well... ?

Marseille was hot no doubt about it, but I can think of several others, Klaus Neumann for one with IV.Sturm/JG 3 later transferring into the Galland Circus JV 44.

E

MICHAELM82 · Post by **MICHAELM82** » 03 Apr 2002 21:16

Hi,
Had to go with Erich Hartmann, like reading about him .
Mike

Erik E · Post by **Erik E** » 03 Apr 2002 21:39

My favourite is Hans Ulrich Rudel.......

Johan Elisson · Post by **Johan Elisson** » 03 Apr 2002 22:05

Rudel!!!

Score

2530 Combat missions
11 Air victories
530 Tanks (five complete Russian Tank Corps)
150 AA and AT positions
800 Motor vehicles
1½ Battleship (he heavily damaged one)
1 Destroyer
70 Landing craft
Numberous bridges and bunkers

30 Times shot down

Only one to be awarded with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds.

/Johan

Fred · Post by **Fred** » 03 Apr 2002 22:28

Rudel for sure!?

Logan Hartke · Post by **Logan Hartke** » 04 Apr 2002 03:20

As for the answer to "Who was the greatest "ace" of the Luftwaffe?", my vote would go to Rudel, no doubt, but I got the feeling that the implied question was "Who was the greatest fighter ace of the Luftwaffe?" (two different things. In that case, my vote would go to Marseille. Funny, neither were included in the poll.

Respectfully,
Logan Hartke

mike262752 · Post by **mike262752** » 04 Apr 2002 06:06

Its hard to say who the best is. Its a matter of opinion really. There are so many that tons will always be left out (Marseille, Rudel, Rall, Nowotny, etc..).

I voted for Mölders though. He came up with the tactics used after all. The British even used his ideas.

First to get diamonds, first to 100, died pretty early in the war (plane crash, non combat accident) yet still had over 100 victories. It would be interesting to know what he would have done with the Me 262. Maybe he could have convinced Hitler/Göring to use the Me 262 better. The Allies gained a big advantage when he died.

mike

Victor · Post by **Victor** » 04 Apr 2002 20:15

Rudel was without a doubt the best Schlacht pilot of the war, but generally the term of ace defines the fighter pilots.

subskipper · Post by **subskipper** » 04 Apr 2002 21:12

Isn't ace a term used about all pilots with 5 or more A-to-A kills??

~Henric Edwards

Erik E · Post by **Erik E** » 04 Apr 2002 21:51

It is difficult to compare men like Rudel and Galland, as they did 2 compleately different jobs... Anyway it was probably easier to shoot down another plane using a Me109, rather than a Ju87

Erik E

Logan Hartke · Post by **Logan Hartke** » 04 Apr 2002 22:50

Erik E wrote:It is difficult to compare men like Rudel and Galland, as they did 2 compleately different jobs... Anyway it was probably easier to shoot down another plane using a Me109, rather than a Ju87

Erik E

I agree, that's why I specified between ace (what the writer of the poll said) and fighter pilot (what I believe the writer of the poll implied). Technically, Rudel is an ace since he scored over 5 air-to-air kills, but he is certainly not a fighter pilot. That's why I made mine specific.

Respectfully,
Logan Hartke

Johan Elisson · Post by **Johan Elisson** » 05 Apr 2002 00:25

Rudel must have been a really hard guy to come out alive 30 times after crashes... Anyone that has more info about his crashes?

/Johan

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Best Luftwaffe Ace

Best Luftwaffe Ace

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Marseille?!