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What qualifies a pilot as an ace?

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  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Nowhere. (Long Island)
Posted by Tankmaster7 on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 7:51 PM
And forever gone are the days of aces like Hartmann, Marseille, Galland, Bader and Gabreski.
-Tanky Welcome to the United States of America, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, in partnership with Halliburton. Security for your constitutional rights provided by Blackwater International.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: phoenix
Posted by grandadjohn on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 6:05 PM
All kills must be confirmed to be counted
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Moooooon River!
Posted by Trigger on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 3:09 PM
There haven't been any American pilots to make the status of "ace" since the Vietnam War. One F-15 pilot did score two MiG kills in ODS and his plane scored three (his two and the third scored by another pilot), but that's been the most scored by an American since 1975.

There were no A/A engagements in OIF to my knowledge. The Iraqi Air Force sat this one out. Some of there MiG-25s even "buried their heads in the sand!"

Off the top of my head, Steve Ritchie and Randy Cunningham come to mind as Vietnam era aces, but I know there had to be more. Neither is no longer in the service but Ritchie still flies an F-4D at airshows. If you have the chance to see him, by all means go! I doubt there are any aces flying these days
------------------------------------------------------------------ - Grant "Can't let that nest in there..."
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Northern Indiana
Posted by overkillphil on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 11:08 AM
5 kills qualifies as an ace, typically only air to air victories count. I'm not sure if there are any aces on active duty at the moment, but I would imagine there are. Not sure if OIF generated any though, as the Iraqi AF wasn't a serious factor. Maybe some of the others will have more info.
my favorite headache/current project: 1/48 Panda F-35 "I love the fact that dumb people don't know who they are. I hope I'm not one of them" -Scott Adams
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: La Crosse, WI
What qualifies a pilot as an ace?
Posted by bud156 on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 10:11 AM
I was wondering what qualifies a pilot as an ace? Also, are there any current aces? I know we were able to keep those Iraqi pilots pretty busy for this war and the one in '91. If it's a ground attack aircraft, can they become an ace for hitting ground targets or is it just air to air kills? Just curious, thanks!
Mike
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