What is your answer?

Who can say what anyone would do in a particular moment?

I remember seeing a reunion photo in the river museum in Savannah, TN last spring of veterans of the Civil War. Cool thing about it was that it was populated by both northern and southern veterans who got together some thirty years after hostilities ended to fellowship with each other. It's inspiring that they could do that; and you see some of that today, especially with WWII vets.

I think the primary function of a fighter pilot is to destroy the enemy machine, and follow the honor code of not shooting at a parachute. Even in the savagery of war, a sane moment does come up once in a while as in the Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler incident.

It is an old custom (I know wrong word) that you wage war on armed adversaries.  Those that wage war on innocents or unarmed enemy are considered barbarians or savages.  If an enemy pilot is in a duel with you they are actively waging war with you, do what you must. To the question, kill the machine and the pilot is rendered useless.  The target is much larger with higher chance of a kill shot.  In a way it could be said, kill the larger threat.

Joe

I would go for the aircraft...  If the pilot is unable to get out due to injuries or equipment damage (ie. canopy won't open due to battle damage) such are the fortunes of war.  Once he is out and under a canopy, wave or salute and go on my way.

I would do this .If i could get in that sweet spot on his six or wherever I would go for the machine .An errant shell might take out the pilot or my shots to the plane might cause it to explode .Scratch one experienced pilot and aircraft . If No, t the machine has to go . I would NOT shoot the pilot in the silk. To me that is morally reprehensible !

The answer to your question DURR: if the pilot bailed out of his craft after I put a few holes in it, I wouldn't shoot the pilot parachutting to earth. So my answer to the question is shoot to put the aircraft out of action.

Now a waist gunner in a bomber shoot to defend his craft so it can complete its mission.

I'd be happy to hit the darn thing. But I suppose it I were a good enough shot, I'd go for the pilot, although we would have lost good NATO Generals such a Gunther Rall.

I guess it depends upon my temper at the time... some things you take more personal- like getting shot at... fear and anger will make your blood boil and put that desire to kill inside you.

I will probably pick up another label for saying this. War is a mean place. All the tanks, trucks, artillery, ships and aircraft are just platforms for carrying bigger or different types of guns. It is possible to force a country's surrender by destroying steel and aluminum, but, if you are trying to actually defeat the enemy you have to shoot the men. Rest assured that they are trying to kill you and your buddies.

Pick out 10 Allied WW II aces,,,,the Boyington's and Baders,,,,imagine if they were shot instead of "reloading" into aircraft after aircraft,,,and if they weren't available to train the newbies.

Rex

edit,,,,,,,I was answering the original post, not the "swinging in the chute" second post

first off the machine is a bigger target  easier to hit

second i know the other guy is out to kill you but he is a human bieng doing what his job is a soldier

the other part to this ? might be do you shoot to kill the enemy pilot who has bailed out  or do you shhot a guy in the back because his gov views r diff than your gov views  that my view  and i know many will not like it