Zenzes recordholder fastest scoring living ace ?

[Regulus]

I was wondering, Alexander Zenzes, 19 victories, scored his first one on 5 June 1918 and his last one on 27 October 1918.

So if we make the count correct, in 5 months, minus 20 day leave, minus 45 days of hospitalisation/revalidation, we can say that he scored his 19 victories in only 3 months of operational flying ! I think this is a record only beaten by Manfred von Richthofen. Am I correct ?

Best regards,

Johan

[Bettors Pub]

If I remember correctly, minus days lost to his three wounds, Lothar Von Richthofen scored his 40 victories in 77 days at the front.

[Alkali Jones]

Hey Regulus,

Frank Luke's first confirmed victory was September 12, 1918. He died on September 29, 1918. He used four days of a weeks leave in Paris during that time. He shot down eighteen enemy aircraft in about seventeen days, not counting his leave. Five of those kills were in about fifteen minutes (two balloons and three planes).

Edward Rickenbacker said this: ""He was the most daring aviator and greatest fighter pilot of the entire war. His life is one of the brightest glories of our Air Service. He went on a rampage and shot down fourteen enemy aircraft, including ten balloons, in eight days. No other ace, Britain's Bishop from Canada, France's Fonck or even the dreaded Richthofen had ever come close to that."

Dan S

[Raineranton]

Originally Posted by Bettors Pub

If I remember correctly, minus days lost to his three wounds, Lothar Von Richthofen scored his 40 victories in 77 days at the front.

I vote also for Lothar von Richthofen.

Regards

Rainer

[Alkali Jones]

Hey All,

Oops, I didn't see the word "living". Sorry about that.

Dan S

[Olham]

Ernst Udet had his last 21 victories in the time of 1 August 1918 - 26 September 1918; im less than 2 months; and survived it. But somehow such comparisons as "who's the top gun" and "fastest scorer" are strange to me and make me feel cold.
I must say, I am much more impressed by the way, in which Arthur Gould Lee flew "his" war. In his writing*, I could not detect real enemyship; nor the ambition to become a top gun.

[* "No Parachute!"]