Often Overlooked Aces

Which aces never get enough respect? Aces like Ernst Udet and Erich Löwenhardt, with 62 and 54 kills respectively, are often overshadowed by Mandred von Richthofen. The Red Baron usually all the attention on the Central Powers' side of things. Udet's and Löwenhardt's numbers are still very impressive, even if less so than the Red Baron. Udet even served all the way up to WWII, when he was supposedly killed "testing a new air weapon."

Just looking for some recognition for some overlooked pilots...

[Alan]

I don't think Udet is underappreciated at all, frankly. Perhaps Lowenhardt. But the more I dig into Udet in my research, the more I fins that there is a wealth of data on the man.

Actually, I think there is a great deal out there on Udet.

[Barker]

When I was a boy, folks would look at Fonck before Guynemer...
Nungesser was always a fav, from the heart.

Wollett, McClaren & McKeever interest.
McCudden is acknowledged, but perhaps overshadowed early by Ball.
On that subject, I think of Rhys-David.
Cobby, for the Aussies.

Stark, Degelow occur...no especial emphasis, order.
Loerzer.
let's see.

am trolling a list in my mind...

Barker, for wringing max value out of one Camel, mention of Wollett or McClaren.
Yes, Collishaw.
Yes, Allemroder - one wonders about him, luckwise having bought it early.
Gontermann?

A lot of stars - airwar is nasty and many do not come to their apogee.

[Barrett]

It wouldn't occur to me to include Udet on a list of unappreciated aces. However, I do have one nomination:

Gerhard Feiseler, a major talent: leading ace in his theater, 5-time aerobatic champ, and of course patron of the Storch...and the V-1 airframe!

Overstated: Cap'n Eddie & Bishop. (Dug in, wired in, sandbagged, and calling for arty!)

[Alan]

Well, given that Rick knew how to market himself and was a flamboyant Alpha personality type, it's no wonder his feats come to the fore...but he did do some pretty neat things.

For American Aces, Frank Luke is still way to undervalued for historical value.

Just a guess but as we near the 100th anniversary for the First Show I bet we see a nostalgic revival of some of this here history.

---------

[Ginger.]

Men like Victor Yeates get my vote. They did the job day in day out and apart from us lot no bugger's ever heard of them.
I mentioned Cobber Kain and Billy Drake to a 'knowledeable' bloke I heard holding court about WW2 Aces recently. All I got was raised eyebrows and a rum look, so there's no hope for the average birdman from the first lot .

[Jos]

Hello,


I agree that Löwenhardt is often overlooked. Photo's of him can easily be found but it's more difficult to find some info on him.
Another one is Fritz Rumey, a 45 victory ace, but it looks like he is forgotten. I only have a couple of pages with info on him.
Both deserve extra attention.

Jos

[pmirl]

I think Lothar von Richthofen, who is stuck somewhere in the shadow of his brother, is an ace we tend to forget. He was aggressive (40 kills), shot down on more than one occasion but just like in riding a horse he knew that when you go down you climb right back up again or you may never get back up!

He must have had a rather sad existance though. Most of his friends and his brother all dead before the war ended. When the war was over, he did the only thing he knew how to do, which was to fly. In a way it was fitting for him to die in a plane doing what he liked to do just like his friends and brother.

Paul

[Rod_Filan]

Originally posted by Barker@Mar 21 2004, 05:00 PM
[b] Wollett, McClaren & McKeever interest.

Agreed. However I'd like to add Atkey to that list !

[Alan]

Originally posted by pmirl@Mar 21 2004, 04:09 PM
[b] I think Lothar von Richthofen, who is stuck somewhere in the shadow of his brother, is an ace we tend to forget. He was aggressive (40 kills), shot down on more than one occasion but just like in riding a horse he knew that when you go down you climb right back up again or you may never get back up!

He must have had a rather sad existance though. Most of his friends and his brother all dead before the war ended. When the war was over, he did the only thing he knew how to do, which was to fly. In a way it was fitting for him to die in a plane doing what he liked to do just like his friends and brother.

Paul

Interesting commentary.

True, Lothar scored more in less time than his brother on a per kill ratio, but because of his temperament, spent more time convalescing, too.

He is the forgotten Richthofen, by and large, something I'm aiming to fix, although it will be some time before it comes to fruition. Regardless of that, his mental state is oft overlooked but given the lack of information out there, so are a lot of the boys who flew for both sides.

It's a shame, but it's easy to forget that these were very young men, some teens, who fought and died almost 100 years ago...