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The term ace (now commonly flying ace) was first used by French newspapers during World War I, describing Adolphe Pégoud as l'as ('the ace'), after he downed five German aircraft. When aircraft began to shoot or force down other aircraft, systems to count "air victories" were subsequently developed.
NameCountryAir Service (s)Victories75 [6]Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force72 [7][b]62 [5]The following are lists of World War I flying aces. Historically, a flying ace was defined as a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The term was first used by French newspapers, describing Adolphe Pégoud as l'as (the ace), after he downed seven German aircraft.
Aces with five symbols on French-suited playing cards, used in Germany The "first French ace", Frenchman Adolphe Pégoud being awarded the Croix de guerre. A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to ...
- Albert Ball VC. © IWM (Q 69593) Albert Ball (1896-1917) was a British fighter pilot and, with 44 official victories, was one of the United Kingdom’s highest-scoring air aces.
- Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor VC. © IWM (Art.IWM ART 2880) Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor (1894-1921) was South Africa’s top flying ace during the First World War.
- William 'Billy' Bishop VC. © IWM (CO 1751) William ‘Billy’ Bishop (1894-1956) was Canada’s highest-scoring fighter pilot and one of the war’s top flying aces.
- Georges Guynemer. Georges Guynemer (1894-1917, pictured in the car) was a French fighter pilot and air ace credited with over 50 victories over the course of his service.
- Werner Voss. Werner Voss was considered as Germany’s Prince of Skies during the First World War and the only competitor to the Red Baron with regard to aerial warfare and victories.
- Georges Guynemer. Georges Guynemer was a famous French ace who had 54 aerial victories during the First World War. However, Guynemer had earned his celebrity ace status not only because of the overwhelming 54 kills but also for being one of the most chivalrous fighter pilots in the history of World War I.
- Donald MacLaren. Advertisement. Donald MacLaren stands out from his fellow air aces in terms of life expectancy in the Royal Flying Corps. With as many as 54 official aerial wins, MacLaren is considered to be the most successful ace of World War I to pilot the Sopwith Camel Aircraft, which, in turn, earned him his celebrity status.
- James McCudden. Longest serving and one of the highest scoring fighter pilots of the British Empire during the First World War, James McCudden is a recipient of the honorary Victoria Cross for his remarkable 57 aerial winning streaks.
It was routine for pilots to claim 'kill' figures notably higher than their official figures. Some units also instated regimes whereby 'easy' targets were to be left to the leading aces, thus further boosting their totals (much to the resentment of junior pilots). The table below lists the top twenty airmen of the war.
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The most successful fighter pilots who took part in aerial battles during the First World War were called flying aces. The term first appeared in 1915 when French newspapers described Adolphe Pegoud as a flying ace after he became the first pilot to shoot down five German aircraft.
