"5 Deadliest Fighter Pilots in US Military History" Topic

Who are the deadliest fighter pilots in U.S. military history?

Military: link

I'll vote for McCampbell. He was CAG-15, and as such, was supposed to concentrate on leading strikes, not air-to-air action, yet he made ace-in-a-day TWICE, and also credited with 21 enemy aircraft on the ground. He'd practiced his gunnery skills to the point on one training hop, he shot the tow cable for the target sleeve in two. And he was a solid leader. His wingman was a double ace, so he apparently had some mentoring skills.

Bong, P-38 Lightning.

Best of the best.

I would go with Richard Bong as well.

I only had the pleasure of meeting Foss, in Indiana. I used to correspond with Bong's wingman. Also used to correspond with some of the "Black Sheep", but not a lot.

I believe it was tougher for the aces who started early, when the cream of the opponents flyers were still alive. Especially when their planes were more equal, or possibly less so.. like the wildcat.

The German planes might have been a bit harder to bring down, as the Japanese thought nothing for the protection of their pilots, sacrificing their safety for speed and agility.

But I respect them all. It takes extraordinary skill to achieve these marks. I cannot and will not pick a favorite.

🫡

No quibble with any of the above. Bong clearly by score as well as Rickenbacker who did fight German planes.

Joe

IIRC Bong said he was not the greatest shot. His tactic was to go head-to-head with a Japanese plane which evidently they were more than glad to do. It solved the deflection problem. A one-second burst of concentrated fire (approx 10x 20mm rounds and 40x 50cal rounds) was more than the Japan plane could withstand getting hit in the engine and pilot compartment.

Wolfhag