![]() Gregory Boyington Navy/National Archives Gregory Boyington His successes include being one of the first people to shoot down a high-powered German Messerschmitt Me 262 jet. Most of his kills came later in the war when he flew with other lone wolf aces. ![]() During World War Two, he achieved a whopping 64 victories. Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born into a poor family in Ukraine but rose high in the ranks of the Soviet military. That honor belongs to Soviet pilot Ivan Kozhedub. The top-scoring Allied forces fighter pilot is probably someone you’ve never heard of. He achieved his kills 8 years after losing his legs.Įven as a double amputee, Douglas Bader was a successful soldier who commanded respect even from his enemies. However, Bader is one of the best fighter pilots of all time because of his story. These are certainly impressive numbers, but not as large as some of the other pilots on the list. Douglas Bader CC0 Douglas Baderĭouglas Bader, the celebrated World War Two RAF pilot, has 20 confirmed individual kills and some more shared victories. He achieved 34 victories, got “ace in a day” twice, and set the single-mission record by shooting down nine planes in a day. McCampbell is celebrated not just for his role in leading this squadron but also for his individual numbers. Together, they achieved an amazing 318 victories. The “ Fabled Fifteen,” or Carrier Air Group 15, were some of the most celebrated fighters in the Pacific theater of World War Two. His most famous achievements came during World War Two as commander of the “Fabled Fifteen.” He was married to a Hollywood star and had a bombastic, charismatic presence that inspired many film scripts.įor 31 years, David McCampbell faithfully served the U.S. Robin Olds also pioneered several fighter pilot techniques such as precision bombing.īesides his kills, Robin Olds is famous for his larger-than-life personality. He saw action in World War Two and the Vietnam War. Olds’s career spanned several decades in the US military. ![]() He is one of the few pilots to achieve the coveted title of “ triple ace,” meaning that he shot down 15 enemy aircraft in one day. Robin Olds is one of the most decorated American fighter pilots in history. He was driven by his desire for revenge against the Nazis and got special permission to fly out of formation and wage his own battle against Nazi planes, attempting daring feats. This amazing fighter pilot managed to rack up 17 kills in just one month of the battle.įrantisek joined the RAF’s Polish 303 Squadron after fleeing his native Czechoslovakia, which was invaded by Nazi Germany in 1939.īesides his impressive number of kills, Frantisek stands out for the daring nature of his deeds. The top scorer of the Battle of Britain, or the pilot with the most kills during the initial air fight for Britain, was not British at all but Czech-Josef Frantisek. ![]() The RFC rejected him at first due to poor eyesight, but they reversed that decision-one that would prove very wise.ĭuring just one year of fighting, several months of which he spent convalescing from injury, Roy achieved a whopping 10 victories. Roy joined the British military when he was only 18, in 1917. However, more people should know about Indra Lal Roy, one of the top pilots for the British RFC during World War One and India’s only fighter ace. India is not a country that is known for its Air Force prowess. This Israeli general is actually the top-scoring jet ace of all time. Giora Epstein may not be a household name for people who are not hardcore aviation history buffs, but he should be. Giora Epstein Colorbykevin/wikimedia Giora Epstein enters Mirage III This list uses a few criteria including kill counts, missions, and unquantifiable skills to put together a list of the best fighter pilots of all time. For example, German pilots in World War Two have higher kill counts than US pilots, not because they were better but because US pilots tended to leave active duty sooner. Fighter pilots fly dangerous missions with minimal support and are vital in advancing the military’s goals.Ĭomparing fighter pilots around the world is hard due to changes in military technology, battle layouts, and the arrangement of different militaries. Hollywood helped glamorize fighter pilots with movies such as Top Gun, but these amazing figures certainly don’t need the help of screenwriters for their daring deeds to stand out.
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