List of aces of aces


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. The term ace is used for a highly successful military professional that has been accredited with: multiple enemy aircraft shot down, tanks destroyed, or ships sunk; by number or tonnage. The term was widely used for propaganda purposes during World War I, and mainly applied to a pilot who was credited with shooting down five enemy aircraft. The title is most closely associated with fighter aces, though there are other types, such as tank aces and submarine aces.

Flying aces

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

World War I

The concept of aces emerged in 1915 during World War I.
PersonCountryWWI years activeOverall years activeAerial victoriesPlane flownNotes
René FonckFrancesfn|Tucker|Wood|Murphy|1996|p=

World War II

had more aces than any other war.
PersonCountryWWII years activeOverall years activeAerial victoriesPlane flownNotes
Erich HartmannNazi Germanysfn|Hinchliffe|1998|pp=210, 294

Post-World War II era

PersonCountryWarsYears activeAerial victoriesPlane flownNotes
Nikolai SutyaginKorean War1941–197822Mig-15The 'Ace of Aces' in the Korean War, with the highest number of kills for any pilot. Officially the highest scoring jet ace in history. Awarded Hero of the Soviet Union.
Joseph C. McConnellKorean War1940–195416F-86 SabreFirst US Jet ace, also top scoring American ace.
Fan WanzhangKorean War?–19528Mig-15Also known as Fan Van Chou. Killed in action on August 8, 1952. Highest scoring People's Liberation Army Air Force Ace.
Muhammad Mahmood AlamPakistan

Submarine aces

Top subsea ace/undersea ace/submarine ace of a nation's submarine force during time of war.
PersonCountryWarPeriodNotes
Lothar [von Arnauld de la Perière]German Empire

Submarine hunters

PersonCountryWarPeriodNotes
John WalkerUK

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.
PersonCountryWarPeriodTanks destroyedTank type crewedNotes
Edmund Roman OrlikPolandinterlanguage link|Ervin Tarczay|hu|Tarczay Ervin

General and cited references

World War I sources

  • Later wars

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Category:Lists of military personnel