Who besides Udet?

[Graeme]

Kory

Got to keep the flag flying.

There were a number of early starters who amassed reasonable scores, mostly from the Royal Naval Air Service which seemed to have had a "Commonwealth" flavour at the time - lots of pilots from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - the likes of Collishaw, Dallas, Little and Kinkead.

The RFC seems to have got off to a slower start with pilots going through the Central Flying School before reaching a front-line unit. Typically, an RFC pilot might be shown as having joined the service in 1915 but not reached a front-line unit until mid to late 1916 (or later)so had less time in which to run up a score.

There is an argument that particular units of particular flying services were drafted to "quiet" sectors of the front, so lengthening the life-span of the pilots affected while making a high score most unlikely. But I don't fancy going down that route - I have no wish to get involved in what is ultimately a futile "debate".

VBR Graeme

I didn't realize Ray Collishaw ever served as an observer ... any idea where I can get more info on this? I thought he started as a pilot, flying Sopwith 1 1/2 strutters (with Naval 3???).

Graham

Oops He was a Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant, in 1916 then payed for his own lessons then went into RNAS as a pilot. Sorry my mistake, got confused i guess.