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Ace vs. Ace
Since my Verifiable Victories project has come a cropper. Let me ask a less demanding question.
What Ace vs. Ace encounters are you aware of:
Here are a few I can think of off the top of my head
WWI
Lothar Von Richthofen (40) vs. Albert Ball (44) –head on passes –Lothar crash landed near Balls wreck –Ball KIA in controversial circumstances –probably damage/Thunder cloud windsheer/Vertigo/Pilot Error combo. –Germans sealed the deal in giving Lothar credit for the victory by putting a few (more?) holes in Balls fuselage –Ball crushed –no battle wounds.
-Manfred Von Richthofen (80) vs. Lanoe Hawker (7 Victories -3 ‘Kills’ - 1VV) –23 Nov 16 Sorry, although an innovator of squadron employment, I don’t consider Hawker an ace with only 1 Verified Victory).
WWII
Sailor Malan (32) vs. Werner Mölders (115) –Mölders WIA BoB -28 Jul 40
Helmut Wick (56) KIA vs. John Dundas (13) KIA vs. Rudolf Pflanz (52) BoB -28 Nov 40 –Wick was diving out of a fight and heading for home when he was bounced by Dundas who reported the victory over the air, just before getting clobbered by Pflanz who had observed Wick bailing out into the freezing English Channel.
Hans-Ulrich Rudel (9 Aircraft & 519 Tanks) vs. Col. Lev Shestakov (26) – 13 Mar 44 Shestakov KIA shooting at Rudel in Nap of the Earth Pursuit –he was either shot down by Rudel’s gunner or got caught the Ju-87’s wash and slammed into ground.
Thanx,
Rob Romero
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