Top (un)lucky pilots?
 

The 'ace' specialists focus on the pilots who could destroy so many or even the most enemy a/c., sometimes leading to heated debates.

On the reverse side, have there ever been efforts made to find the pilots who were shot down most and lived to tell the tale?

Regards,
Leendert

Re: Top (un)lucky pilots?
 

Good afternoon Leendert,

that's an interesting question.
Hans-Ulrich Rudel was shot down or forced to land 30 times due to anti-aircraft artillery. To me that record appears hard to beat.

Have a nice Tuesday,

Michael

Re: Top (un)lucky pilots?
 

From what I remember there was a pilot who made dozens of night-time training flights and was extremely experienced in night-flying in the end but when posted to one of the 'Wilde Sau' Geschwader JG 300/301/302 he was shot down and killed on while flying a day-light mission on his first Feindflug!

Re: Top (un)lucky pilots?
 

Good afternoon,

Manfred von Richthofen was shot down three times and credited to aces each time:

6.3.1917
http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/benbow.php
survived unharmed but maybe rather bested by Gregory while Benbow got Lübbert

6.7.1917
http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/cunnell.php
survived wounded but probably rather shot down by friendly fire

21.4.1918
http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/brown3.php
killed but probably rather shot down by ground fire

Re: Top (un)lucky pilots?
 

PO VMM Ortmans shot down 6 times last on 27 Oct 41 POW 609 Sqn

PO Roland Patterson wrecked 5 RAF fighters called himself " The only German Ace in the RAF. 7 Dec 1041 with 121 Sqn shot down and KIA flak

Re: Top (un)lucky pilots?
 

Hello James,

this duo clearly was on the receiving end.
Did they also shoot anything down for the balance ?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Top (un)lucky pilots?
 

Ortmans claimed Bf 109s destroyed on 21 May 41, 4 Jun 41, 30 Jun 41, 18 Aug 41 and a Fw 190 21 Oct 41. He also had a number with 229 Sqn and damaged and probables-he is listed in the book Aces High

Re: Top (un)lucky pilots?
 

Maybe we would need to segregate the thread in 2 categories:
1- Shot down by enemy fire, like Rudel (30 times), G. Rall, Galland, etc.
2 - Those who crashed landed by cause of WX (weather), engine failure, a/c malfunction; during training (lack of experience), etc...

There is NO doubt that some airmen seems to have been followed by the "Grim Reaper" since training....

Re: Top (un)lucky pilots?
 

Good day Gentlemen,

I found Mr Ortmans at cieldegloire:
http://www.cieldegloire.fr/006_ortmans.php
ACES HIGH is duly cited

Best greetings from Switzerland,

Michael

Re: Top (un)lucky pilots?
 

The info I got on Ortmans and Paterson was from Airwar 1941 the non Stop Offensive