ACES: Do you have to fly...........

McLeod was and aces havin shot down 6 aircraft.

Does the pilot have to fly a certain plane to be considered an ace? I thought the score was the only criteria for the claim of being an ACE.

You are correct sir, it did not matter what plane you fly as long as you had at least five confirmed air victories. There are several "Observer Aces" who didn't even fly but rode in the planes as gunners/observers.

[Graeme]

Charles

I think that McLeod received credit for only four victories - an Albatros scout out of control on 18 December 1917 (and I'm not certain about this one) and the three Fokkers shot down by Hammond on 27 March 1918. Since the balloon he attacked on 14 January 1918 did not catch fire, it was technically not destroyed.

I note that McLeod is sometimes quoted as having shot down two balloons but I believe this to be an error since one was supposed to have been shot down on 12 January 1918. There were low clouds and winds on that day and the RFC Communique mentions no combats.

Regardless of his score, McLeod richly deserved the VC he was awarded. His achievements, and those of other artillery-observation crews should not be overlooked, even if they are not so glamorous as those of some of the Aces.

Graeme

[Billy_Bishop]

As far as I can tell, he did not have 5 or more victories to his credit. McLeod was not an ace, merely a very brave FK8 driver, who likely has 4 victories to his credit, and the Victoria Cross.

VBR,

Al Lowe