From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ace of aces is a title accorded to the top active ace within a branch of service in a nation's military in time of war.[ citation needed] The title is most closely associated with fighter aces, though there are other types, such as tank aces and submarine aces.[ citation needed]

Flying aces

Ace of aces is a title accorded to the top flying ace of a nation's air force during time of war.[ citation needed]

World War I

The concept of aces emerged in 1915 during World War I.

Person Country WWI years active Overall years active Aerial victories Plane flown Notes
Adolphe Pégoud France French Third Republic 5 February 1915 – 31 August 1915 1907–1915 The first flying ace in history. [1]
Jean Navarre France French Third Republic September 1914 – 17 June 1916 1914–1919 12 Nieuport 11, Nieuport 16 and Morane-Saulnier L Wounded in action on 17 June 1916. [2][ better source needed]
Georges Guynemer France French Third Republic 8 June 1915 – 11 September 1917 1914–1917 54 Morane-Saulnier L, Spad VII, SPAD XII and SPAD XIII [2][ better source needed] [3][ better source needed]
Charles Nungesser France French Third Republic July 1915 – 14 August 1918 1914–1918 43 Voisin 3, Nieuport 17, Nieuport 25 and SPAD XIII
René Fonck France French Third Republic May 1915 – 1 november 1918 1914–1918

1937–1940

75 Caudron G III, SPAD VII, SPAD XII and SPAD XIII All-time Allied ace of aces, with 75 confirmed aerial victories. [4][ page needed] [5] [6]
Oswald Boelcke German Empire German Empire 15 August 1914 – 28 October 1916 1911–1916 Fokker E.I, Fokker E.III, Fokker E.IV, Fokker D.III, Albatros D.I and Albatros D.II
Max Immelmann German Empire German Empire February 1915 – 18 June 1916 1911–1916 Fokker E.I and Fokker E.IV
Werner Voss German Empire German Empire 27 January 1915 – 23 September 1917 1914–1917 48 Albatros D.III, Fokker Dr.I, Pfalz D.III, Pfalz Dr.I, Albatros D.V 48 confirmed victories, tied with Josef Jacobs
Erich Loewenhardt German Empire German Empire March 1917 – 10 August 1918 1914–1918 54 confirmed victories, third after Manfred von Richthofen and Ernst Udet [7][ page needed]
Manfred von Richthofen German Empire German Empire 17 September 1916 – 21 April 1918 1911 - 1918 80 The ace of aces von Richthofen, also called "The Red Baron", achieved 80 air combat victories, the highest score in World War I.
Ernst Udet German Empire German Empire – end of World War I 62 confirmed victories, second after Manfred von Richthofen [8]
Raymond Collishaw Canada Dominion of Canada August 1916 – end of World War I Credited with 60 victories, making him the second highest scoring Canadian ace of the war, behind Billy Bishop. [9]
Frederick Libby   United States
( United Kingdom RAF)
2 December 1916 – 2 December 1917 The first American ace. Fourteen victories. [10]
Billy Bishop Canada Dominion of Canada April 1917 – end of World War I Credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian and British Empire ace of the war. [11] In 1917 he became the highest scoring ace in the RFC and the third top ace of the war, behind only the Red Baron and René Fonck. [12]
Raoul Lufbery   United States
( France Armée de l'air)
2 December 1917 – 15 May 1918 Succeeded Libby by scoring his 15th and 16th victories. [13]
Paul Frank Baer   United States
( France Armée de l'air)
15 May 1918 – 18 May 1918 Succeeded Lufbery on his death. Nine victories. [14][ better source needed]
Frank Leaman Baylies   United States
( France Armée de l'air)
18 May 1918 – 12 June 1918 Succeeded Baer on his death. [14][ better source needed]
David E. Putnam   United States
( France Armée de l'air)
12 June 1918 – 12 September 1918 Succeeded Bayliss on his capture. [14][ better source needed][ clarification needed]
Frank Luke   United States 12 September 1918 – 29 September 1918 Succeeded Bayliss on his death. [14][ better source needed][ clarification needed]
Eddie Rickenbacker   United States 29 September 1918 – end of World War I Succeeded Luke on his death. Was the American ace of aces for overall aerial victories (26). [14][ better source needed]
Indra Lal Roy British Raj British India 1917–1918 India's most successful fighter pilot, with 12 kills (two shared). He remains the only Indian fighter ace to this day. [15][ better source needed]

World War II

World War II had more planes than any other war.

Person Country WWII years active Overall years active Aerial victories Plane flown Notes
Erich Hartmann Nazi Germany Nazi Germany 19 September 1942-8 May 1945 1940–1945

1956–1970

352 Bf 109 Hartmann is the highest scoring ace of all time, with 352 aerial victories, the first pilot to achieve 300 aerial victories (on 24 August 1944) and 350 aerial victories (on 17 April 1945) [16]
Ilmari Juutilainen   Finland 1939–1944 1932–1947 94 Fokker D.XXI, Brewster Buffalo and Bf 109 The top scoring Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force), and the top scoring non-German fighter pilot of all time. The top flying ace of the Finnish Air Force with 94 confirmed aerial combat victories [17]
Pat Pattle   United Kingdom 4 August 1940– 20 April 1941 1936–1941 50 Hurricanes and Gladiators Credited with 51 victories, making him the most successful South African Ace of the Second World War.
Sailor Malan   South Africa 1939–1944 1932–1946 Spitfire Commanded Biggin Hill at the height of the Battle of Britain, shooting down Werner Molders. Credited with over 30 confirmed victories.
George 'Buzz' Beurling   Canada 1940–1944 1940–1944, 1948 31 Spitfire and P-51 Mustangs Credited with 31 confirmed victories, making him the most successful Canadian ace of the Second World War. [18]
James Edgar 'Johnnie' Johnson   United Kingdom 1941–1945 1939–1966 34 Spitfire Highest scoring RAF ace of the war, with 34 confirmed kills.
Richard Bong   United States 19 January 1942–6 August 1945 1941–1945 40 P-38 Lightning and P-80 Shooting Star Top US flying ace of the war, credited with 40 confirmed downed Japanese aircraft. Awarded the Medal of Honor. [19]
Ivan Kozhedub   Soviet Union 6 July 1943 – 17 April 1945 1940–1985 64 La-5 and La-7 Credited with 64 victories, Kozhedub is the top scoring Allied ace of World War II. One of the few pilots to shoot down a Messerschmitt Me 262. [20] [21]
William R. Dunn   United States
( United Kingdom Eagle Squadron)
16 April 1941 – June 1944 1934–1935

1939–1973

Spitfire, Hurricanes and P-47 Thunderbolt First US ace of the war, while flying with the RAF. [22][ page needed]
Joe Foss   United States October 1942–1944 1939–1955 26 F4U Corsair and F4F Wildcat Credited with 26 confirmed downed Japanese aircraft. Awarded the Medal of Honor. [23][ better source needed]
Werner Mölders Nazi Germany Nazi Germany 1 September 1939 – 22 November 1941 1931–1941 Bf 109 [24]
Alfred Schreiber Nazi Germany Nazi Germany -26 November 1944 1933-1944 5 Messerschmitt Me 262 First aerial victory by a jet fighter and first jet ace in aviation history. [25]
Robin Olds   United States August 1943–1945 1943-1973 13 P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang Triple ace - Olds was the only pilot to "make ace" in both the P-38 (five victories) and the P-51 (eight victories) in the war.

Post-World War II era

Person Country Wars Years active Aerial victories Plane flown Notes
Royal N. Baker   United States Korean War 1941–1975 F-86 Sabre Was the ace of aces for jet-vs-jet combat. Succeeded Davis on his death. [26][ better source needed] [27][ better source needed]
Joseph C. McConnell   United States Korean War 1940–1954 F-86 Sabre Was the ace of aces for jet-vs-jet combat. [28][ better source needed]
Muhammad Mahmood Alam Pakistan Pakistan Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 1953–1982 F-86 Sabre Muhammad Mahmood Alam is credited with having shot down five Indian aircraft in less than a minute, the last four within 30 seconds. [29]
Giora Even Epstein Israel Israel Six-Day War 1956–1997 Mirage III, Mirage 5, Kfir and F-16 Credited with 17 victories, 16 against Egyptian jets, making Epstein the ace of aces of supersonic fighter jets and of the Israeli Air Force. [30] [31]
Randy H. Cunningham   United States Vietnam War 1967–1987 F-4 Phantom II First American ace of the Vietnam War. [32]
Nguyen Van Coc Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam Vietnam War 1961–2002 MiG-17 and MiG-21 From seven to nine victories on US-crewed aircraft, as well as two drones. [33] [34]
Legesse Tefera Ethiopia Ethiopia Ogaden War Northrop F-5 Ethiopia's most successful pilot, and the most successful Northrop F-5 pilot, with six or seven kills. [35] [36] [37] [38]
Shahram Rostami Iran Iran Iran–Iraq War 1967–2007 F-14 Tomcat [39] [40]
Jalil Zandi Iran Iran Iran–Iraq War 1970–2001 F-14 Tomcat Iran's most successful fighter pilot ever, with eight confirmed aerial victories. The most successful F-14 Tomcat pilot. [41] [42][ better source needed] [43]
Mohommed "Sky Falcon" Rayyan Iraq Iran–Iraq War 1977–1986 MiG-21 and MiG-25 Iraq's most successful fighter pilot ever, with five confirmed aerial victories. The most successful MiG-25 pilot. [44] [45]

21st Century era

Person Country Wars Years active Aerial victories Plane flown Notes
Stepan "Ghost of Kiev" Tarabalka Ukraine Ukraine Russo-Ukrainian War 2014–2022 40 Mikoyan MiG-29 during the Kyiv Offensive from 24 February – 8 April 2022 Stepan reportedly shot down 40 Russian Aircraft (how ever the UAF stated that the number was total air victories of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade) Stepan reportedly died in the 13 March 2022 (aged 29) while facing a dogfight against several Russian fighter jets. if true he is the first fighter Ace of the 21st Century.

[46][ better source needed]

Andrii "Juice" Pilshchykov Ukraine Ukraine Russo-Ukrainian War 2015–2021, 2022–2023 Mikoyan MiG-29 The one of the First fighter Aces in the 21st century ever, with more then five confirmed aerial victories.

[47][ better source needed]

Oleksandr "Grey Wolf" Oksanchenko Ukraine Ukraine Russo-Ukrainian War Annexation of Crimea 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Battle of Kyiv}

Soviet Union [Soviet Union] 1989–1991

Ukraine Ukraine 1991–2018, 2022

10 Sukhoi Su-27 One of the First fighter Aces in the 21st century with more then 10 confirmed aerial victories.

[48][ better source needed]

Vadym "Karaya" & "Ghost of Vinnytsia" Voroshylov Ukraine Ukraine Russo-Ukrainian War 2011 to Present 7+ Mikoyan MiG-29 On October 10, during a massive missile attack, he shot down two Russian cruise missiles. On October 12, he destroyed five Shahed 136 drones three in southern Ukraine and two over Vinnytsia, making him the first ace in a day in the 21st Century and since 1st Lieutenant Oscar Perdomo, USAAF 475th FG, On 13 August 1945who was the last individual to active the title. he was forced to eject from his MiG-29 aircraft after it was hit by debris from the last Shahed-136 that had shot down. Vadym ejected in Vinnytsia region, having previously diverted the fighter jet from the settlement. He was awarded the Hero of Ukraine award for his actions.

[49][ better source needed]

Submarine aces

Ace of the Deep is a title accorded to the top subsea ace/undersea ace/submarine ace of a nation's submarine force during time of war.[ citation needed]

Persons accorded the title ace of aces
Person Country War Period Notes
Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière German Empire Imperial Germany World War I 1915–18 The commander of U-35, Arnauld de la Perière sank a total of 194 merchant vessels and gunboats totaling 453,716 gross metric tons. [50] [51]
Dick O'Kane   United States World War II – 25 October 1944 Was captured and made Prisoner of war. [52][ page needed]
Eugene Fluckey   United States World War II [53]
Malcolm David Wanklyn   United Kingdom World War II – 14 April 1942 Wanklyn was the British Ace of Aces in terms of tonnage. [53] [54][ better source needed] [55][ page needed]
Benjamin Bryant   United Kingdom World War II – end of World War II Bryant was the British Ace of Aces. [56] [57][ page needed]
Reinhard Suhren Nazi Germany Nazi Germany World War II A U-boat ace. [58][ page needed]
Gianfranco Gazzana-Priaroggia Kingdom of Italy Italy World War II The highest scoring Italian submarine commander, with 11 ships sunk for a total of 90,601 tons. [59]
Carlo Fecia di Cossato Kingdom of Italy Italy World War II With 16 sinkings, he is credited with the most kills in the Regia Marina, as well as the second most successful Italian submarine commander with 86,545 tons. [59]

Submarine hunters

Persons accorded the title ace of aces[ citation needed]
Person Country War Period Notes
John Walker United Kingdom United Kingdom World War II Walker sank more U-boats (12 confirmed) during the Battle of the Atlantic than any other British or Allied commander. [60][ better source needed]

Tank aces

A "tank ace" or Panzer ace has been described by Historian Robert Kershaw as being the minority of tank commanders that accounted for the most destroyed enemy armor, saying it is roughly analogous with a flying ace. [61]

Person Country War Period Tanks destroyed Tank type crewed Notes
Kurt Knispel Nazi Germany Nazi Germany World War II 1940 – 28 April 1945 168 Tiger I and Tiger II 168 confirmed and 195 unconfirmed tank kills. He fought in nearly every type of German tank, working as a loader, gunner, or commander. He is credited with destroying a T-34 tank from 3,000 meters.
Otto Carius Nazi Germany Nazi Germany World War II 1940 – 7 May 1945 150 Tiger I, various others Credited with over 150 tank kills and 1 aircraft shot down, mostly in various Tiger tanks. [62]
Johannes Bölter Nazi Germany Nazi Germany World War II 1940 – 28 April 1945 139 Tiger I Destroyed 139 enemy tanks, including 16 tanks in one action. Referenced in Wolfgang Schneider's "Tigers in Combat, Volume 1" [63]
Michael Wittmann Nazi Germany Nazi Germany World War II 1941 – 8 August 1944 138 Tiger I and Sturmgeschütz III Credited with over 138 tank kills [64]
Paul Egger Nazi Germany Nazi Germany World War II 1941 – 3 May 1945 113 Tiger I SS obershafuehrer Credited with 113 tank kills [65]
Fritz lang Nazi Germany Nazi Germany World War II 1941 – ???? 111 Stug III Germany's WW2 top assault gun ace. [66]
Albert Kerscher Nazi Germany Nazi Germany World War II ???? – 19 April 1945 100 Tiger I Feldwebel Albert Kerscher, a member of Schwere Panzer Abeteilung 502. Credited with 100 tanks destroyed [67] [68]
Zvika Greengold Israel Israel Yom Kippur War 6 October 1973 – 25 October 1973 60 Centurion (more specifically Sho't) In total 60 tanks were accredited to him. [69] Greengold himself claims 20 Syrian tanks over the space of holding his position for 20 hours. He changed tanks six times. [70] [71]
Dmitry Lavrinenko Soviet Union USSR World War II 1941 52 T-34 Dmitry Fyodorovich Lavrinenko was a Soviet tank commander and Hero of the Soviet Union. He was the highest scoring tank ace of the Allies during World War II. Lavrinenko destroyed 52 tanks in just 2.5 months of fierce fighting in 1941.
Alfred Nickolls United Kingdom United Kingdom World War II 1940 – 1943 30 M4 Sherman According to the 22nd November 1942 citation, [72] Corporal Nickolls, in a Sherman tank at El Alemain destroyed 14 tanks, including destroying 9 German tanks in one single engagement. [72] He destroyed 30 tank during the entire North Africa campaign, making him the top tank ace of the United Kingdom and the top tank ace of the western Allies during World War II [73] Awarded the Military Medal by Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery [74]
Zinovy Grigoryevich Kolobanov Soviet Union USSR World War II 1941 25 KV-1 Destroyed 22 tanks and 2 artillery pieces before running out of ammunition, while leading a unit of 5 KV-1Es in an ambush near Leningrad on 20 August 1941. His unit destroyed a total of 43 German tanks that day. [75]
Sydney Valpy Radley-Walters Canada Canada World War II October 1942 - end of World War II 18 M4 Sherman Credited with 18 tank kills and many other armoured vehicles, whilst in command of three Sherman tanks, named 'Caribou'. [76] The tank squadron under his command may have been responsible for the death of German tank ace Michael Wittmann.
Lafayette G. Pool   United States World War II 27 June 1944 – 15 September 1944 12 M4 Sherman Widely recognised as the American tank ace of aces, with 12 confirmed tank kills and 258 armoured vehicle kills, whilst in command of a Sherman tank. [77] [78]
Börje Bror Brotell Finland Finland World War II 1943 – 1944 11 Sturmgeschütz III Recognised as the Finnish tank ace of aces, with 11 confirmed and 4 unconfirmed tank kills during World War II. Brotell’s role during The Battle of Tali–Ihantala was decisive and his Sturmgeschütz III destroyed multiple enemy tanks which had achieved a breakthrough. [79]
Arun Khetarpal India India Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Battle of Basantar 9 December 1971 - 16 December 1971 10 Centurion Indian Tank ace. Personally responsible for destroying 10 tanks before he was killed in action in Battle of Basantar [80]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Franks & Bailey (2008), pp. 201–202.
  2. ^ a b New York Times, "Saw 40 Air Foes After Guynemer", Thursday 27 September 1917
  3. ^ Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation, "Hispano-Suiza Aeronautical Engines", Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation, 1918
  4. ^ Taylor & Francis, "The European Powers in the First World War", Spencer Tucker, Laura Matysek Wood, Justin D. Murphy, ISBN  0-8153-0399-8
  5. ^ The Lowell Sun, "Record by French "Ace Of Aces" Never Equalled", Associated Press, Friday 21 June 1918
  6. ^ Doubleday, "Ace of Aces", René Fonck, 1967
  7. ^ Osprey Publishing, "Richthofen's Circus", Greg VanWyngarden, 2005
  8. ^ University of Nebraska Press, "Impossible missions?: German economic, military, and humanitarian efforts in Africa", Nina Berman, 2004
  9. ^ "Raymond Collishaw World War I Fighter Ace". www.constable.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  10. ^ Franks & Bailey 2008, p. 55.
  11. ^ veterans.gc.ca (23 January 2020). "Billy Bishop Canada's finest Ace". veterans. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  12. ^ McCaffery 1960, p. 143.
  13. ^ Franks & Bailey 2008, pp. 56–57.
  14. ^ a b c d e Stokes, "Fighting the Flying Circus", Eddie Rickenbacker, 1919, (accessed 18 April 2009)
  15. ^ "Indra Lal Roy". www.theaerodrome.com.
  16. ^ Toliver & Constable 1998, pp. 385, 386.
  17. ^ "Keskinen, Kalevi; Stenman, Kari and Niska, Klaus. Hävittäjä-ässät (Finnish Fighter Aces). Espoo, Finland: Tietoteas, 1978. ISBN  951-9035-37-0.
  18. ^ historicacanada.ca. "George "Buzz" Beurling". historicacanada. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  19. ^ "Dick Bong: Ace Of Aces", General George C. Kenney, 1960
  20. ^ Polak, Tomas with Christopher Shores. Stalin’s Falcon – The Aces of the Red Star. Brub Street, London, 1999. ISBN  1-902304-01-2, p.189
  21. ^ "Николай Бодрихин. Советские асы. Очерки о советских летчиках". www.erlib.com (in Russian).
  22. ^ "Fighter Pilot: The First American Ace of World War II", William R. Dunn
  23. ^ The Telegraph (London), "Joe Foss", 2 January 2003, (accessed 17 April 2009)
  24. ^ Toliver & Constable 1998, p. 385.
  25. ^ Foreman & Harvey 1995, p. 81.
  26. ^ TIME, "Ace of Aces", Monday 23 March 1953, (accessed 17 April 2009)
  27. ^ The Canberra Times, "Air Ace Ends Task", 16 March 1953, (accessed 17 April 2009)
  28. ^ TIME, "Ace's End", 6 September 1954, (accessed 17 April 2009)
  29. ^ "Fifth death anniversary of war hero MM Alam being observed today". Express Tribune. 18 March 2018.
  30. ^ "Desert Aces". Dogfights. Season 2. Episode 5. 2007-08-10. The History Channel. Archived from the original on 2007-10-10.
  31. ^ "CBSi". findarticles.com. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  32. ^ Texas A&M University Press, "Striving for air superiority: the Tactical Air Command in Vietnam", Craig C. Hannah, 2002, ISBN  978-1-58544-146-4
  33. ^ "Vietnamese Air-to-Air Victories, Part 1". Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
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  35. ^ Boring, War Is (August 8, 2016). "Which is Better, the F-5E Tiger II or the MiG-21?".
  36. ^ "Ethiopia : Hero Air Force General Passes Away". October 5, 2016.
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  44. ^ "Iraqi Air-to-Air Victories since 1967". Archived from the original on 2013-08-05. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
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  46. ^ https://nypost.com/2022/04/29/ghost-of-kyiv-major-stepan-tarabalka-killed-in-battle/}}
  47. ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-mourns-ace-fighter-pilot-juice-killed-collision-2023-08-29/ - ANNOUNCEMENTS|website=www.iiaf.net}}
  48. ^ https://theaviationist.com/2022/03/01/col-oksanchenko-shot-down/}}
  49. ^ https://nypost.com/2022/12/08/ukrainian-fighter-pilot-shoots-gory-selfie-after-ejecting/}}
  50. ^ Challenge Publications, "The U-Boat ACE of ACES", William H Langenberg, 2004
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  52. ^ Sutton Publishing, "The Bravest Man", William Tuohy, 2001
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  54. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Malcolm David Wanklyn VC, DSO, RN". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.
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  57. ^ Bantam, "Submarine Commander", Rear Admiral Ben Bryant, 1960
  58. ^ US Naval Institute Press, "Teddy Suhren: Ace of Aces: Memoirs of a U-boat Rebel", Teddy Suhren, ISBN  978-1-59114-851-7
  59. ^ a b Giorgerini, Giorgio (2002). Uomini sul fondo : storia del sommergibilismo italiano dalle origini a oggi. Milano: Mondadori. p. 691. ISBN  8804505370.
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  75. ^ "Monument to veteran of Great Patriotic War Zinoviy Kolobanov to be unveiled in Minsk". Belarusian Telegraph Agency. 7 September 2006. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  76. ^ Rose, Larry (April 23, 2015). "Tank Ace began stellar career at Normandy". The Globe and Mail.
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General and cited references

World War I sources

  • Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank (2008). Over the Front: The Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918. London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN  978-0-948817-54-0.
  • Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank; Guest, Russell (2008). Above the Lines: A Complete Record of the Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps 1914–1918. London, UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN  978-0-948817-73-1.

Later wars

  • Aces of WWII
  • Foreman, John; Harvey, S.E. (1995), Messerschmitt Combat Diary Me.262, Crecy Publishing Ltd, ISBN  1-871187-30-3.
  • Toliver, Raymond F. and Trevor J. Constable (1998). Die deutschen Jagdflieger-Asse 1939 – 1945. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN  3-87943-193-0.
  • Samuel, Wolfgang W.E. (2004). American Raiders — The Race to Capture the Luftwaffe's Secrets. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN  1-57806-649-2.