tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-980951139270141970.post6284437007064221701..comments2023-11-30T10:43:33.130-06:00Comments on Reading Freely: The Red BaronStephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15097908023032528200noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-980951139270141970.post-77390171139222489372014-09-02T15:57:51.310-05:002014-09-02T15:57:51.310-05:00I think that the average life expectancy was 6 wee...I think that the average life expectancy was 6 weeks (or possibly 3 thinking about it). You either learnt REALLY fast or died. Very much like The Battle of Britain in 1940.<br /><br />The aces of all sides where truly exceptional people.<br /><br />I think a lot of pilots (and observers) died during training plus simply landing exhausted from combat missions. From memory I do think more pilots/crew died that way than in actual combat. CyberKittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394155516712665665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-980951139270141970.post-27042898111612086982014-09-02T15:07:22.421-05:002014-09-02T15:07:22.421-05:00It's amazing that these men lasted long enough...It's amazing that these men lasted long enough in the air to score 50+ kills -- the technology was still in its early stages. I wonder if anyone has ever compared airplane fatalities by accident (technical malfunction) vs actual combat-related deaths...Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15097908023032528200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-980951139270141970.post-76418932168614063112014-09-01T15:43:50.194-05:002014-09-01T15:43:50.194-05:00Rickenbacker is credited with 26 victories and is ...Rickenbacker is credited with 26 victories and is the highest US ace.<br /><br />The highest 'scoring' Allied ace is Rene Fonck (France) with 75 victories, then Billy Bishop (Canada) with 72 and Edward Mannock (UK) with 61.CyberKittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394155516712665665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-980951139270141970.post-37418546282631344302014-09-01T12:15:47.900-05:002014-09-01T12:15:47.900-05:00Fascinating hero, for the wrong side of course, wh...Fascinating hero, for the wrong side of course, who made a difference in the skies. <br />The allies had a counterpart from the US when in 1918 Eddie Rickenbacker became a fighter ace and won the Medal of Honor.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561320676355168336noreply@blogger.com