Initially,pilots were sent up without parachutes for one thing, it reduced the weight for another, it gave pilots an incentive to bring the plane back with them.
Observers in tethered balloons, however, were given parachutes. Balloons were considered expendable.
Technically speaking, to be an air ace, you need to have shot down 5 enemy aircraft. We have no evidence that Snoopy has shot down any. In fact, at the rate he is going, he probably accounts for most of Richthofen’s 80 victories.
It is unlikely that we will see such counts again or maybe even the concept of ace has gone the way of the dodo. The issue is the sheer number of aircraft to shoot down. Even as late as WW II, aircraft were relatively unsophisticated machines that were mass produced: some models were rolled out by the tens of thousands.
Even a plane a complex as the B-17 (complex when compared to a fighter of the time) at the height of production was rolling off the line at one bomber an hour. (Take a bow, Rosie). We were literally producing aircraft faster than the Germans could shoot them down.
In WW II each side had hundreds of thousands of fighter aircraft. Today, even a modern air force falls well short of the thousand mark in fighter aircraft.
orinoco womble almost 11 years ago
And all the days after that…
juicebruce almost 11 years ago
Snoopy, Do a loop and get on the Barron’s six !
johndifool almost 11 years ago
Well, considering that he just got “bounced”…
rdoughty almost 11 years ago
Snoopy is obviously not a real pilot or he would be worried about the crew chief, not the supply sergeant. :-)
WSR almost 11 years ago
Just hope he doesn’t land in his supper dish.
dflak almost 11 years ago
Initially,pilots were sent up without parachutes for one thing, it reduced the weight for another, it gave pilots an incentive to bring the plane back with them.
Observers in tethered balloons, however, were given parachutes. Balloons were considered expendable.
dflak almost 11 years ago
Technically speaking, to be an air ace, you need to have shot down 5 enemy aircraft. We have no evidence that Snoopy has shot down any. In fact, at the rate he is going, he probably accounts for most of Richthofen’s 80 victories.
It is unlikely that we will see such counts again or maybe even the concept of ace has gone the way of the dodo. The issue is the sheer number of aircraft to shoot down. Even as late as WW II, aircraft were relatively unsophisticated machines that were mass produced: some models were rolled out by the tens of thousands.
Even a plane a complex as the B-17 (complex when compared to a fighter of the time) at the height of production was rolling off the line at one bomber an hour. (Take a bow, Rosie). We were literally producing aircraft faster than the Germans could shoot them down.
In WW II each side had hundreds of thousands of fighter aircraft. Today, even a modern air force falls well short of the thousand mark in fighter aircraft.
rdoughty almost 11 years ago
USAF, total force, fighter/attack, 30 Sep 12 = 2,025
Number Three almost 11 years ago
Poor little guy!
xxx
Doctor11 almost 11 years ago
It isn’t your fault that the Red Baron likes to pull sneak attacks, Ace, and that’s something that your supply sergeant should understand.
ratlum almost 11 years ago
You will never catch the Red Baron anyways go to the canteen,and brag how you outfoxed that devil to day.
AmyGrantfan51774 almost 11 years ago
poor Snoop he has bad luck, eh??!!!!!!!!!