[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

Baracca with 34 kills.

Correct answer!!!

[Cruver Collecter]

How about the leading Austro-Hungarian Ace for WWI?

[Cruver Collecter]

Last one for the evening, and this may be a hard one. Highest scoring Greek ace of WWI? (There was only one and he scored nine victories.)

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

Good one Jim. According to the analysis by Sundin and Bergstrom, the Luftwaffe fighters did, indeed, have a 15 to 1 edge in kills over the Soviets early on---1942, to be specific. However, as the Russians fielded better planes, higher proportions of skilled pilots and began to swarm the over-extended Germans, things changed. By March-April 1945, the Red air force was often bagging as many---and sometimes more--- German planes that it lost in return. Over-all, from 1941-1945, the Luftwaffe had an 8 to 1 edge in the East, but was fought to a draw by the Western allies in this respect.

I was trying to stay away from this question cause I knew the answer from Sundin and Bergstrom book, but even according to German sources, Axis forces left 52,850 planes of all types were as scrapped metal on the Eastern Front. I guess they either all fell victim to spontaneous combustion or suffered mechanical breakdowns cause it's a well known fact that German forces never lost a single of anything over the East. I know this will never be accepted by the Western "scholars", but when the dust settled in May of 1945, German probably could claim no more then 3:1 ratio over VVS losses. However, the above ratio includes all causes from accidents, mechanical breakdowns, and quite excellent AA gunners on both sides.

Regards,

Sergey

P.S. If somebody wants, I can upload the Russian book, which loosely translated title is "The Booty of the Air Battles: 1941-1945". The main text is in Russian, but all the photos and color illustrations have English subtitles.

[Canuck]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

How about the leading Austro-Hungarian Ace for WWI?

Godwin Brumowski - 35 kills.

[Canuck]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

Last one for the evening, and this may be a hard one. Highest scoring Greek ace of WWI? (There was only one and he scored nine victories.)

Aristides Moraitinius - Greek Naval Air Service.

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

How about the leading Austro-Hungarian Ace for WWI?

Hauptmann Godwin Brumowski, officially credited with 40 victories.

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by Captain Eddie

Another one. Who was tossed out of his aircraft while trying to change the drum on his upper-wing Lewis gun, and lived to tell the tale?

Pulling this one up to the front. I'll give the answer this evening if no one gets it.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Canuck

Godwin Brumowski - 35 kills.

Correct answer!!!

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Canuck

Aristides Moraitinius - Greek Naval Air Service.

Another correct answer!!!! Thought this one might be a bit tricky, good call nailing this one.