Bomber Aces with min. 500 combat missions list

[Chris Goss]

I find it hard to accept that Dochtermann, with "2000+missions" did not receive any notable award until 8 May 44 when he received the EP and then did not get the DKiG until early 1945

[PMoz99]

Thanks Michael! Amongst other things, Dochtermann was supposedly in the Legion Condor and sank the troopship HMT Rhona off Algeria with a Hs293. Helbig had 330 by mid-1942.

I agree with you Chris. A similar thought goes for Kuntz, which is part of the reason why why I posted, hoping to generate some interest in the topic and to try to get more information. There must be some somewhere other than those sites I already mentioned ..........

Baetcher is generally recognised as having flown the most bomber combat missions. From what I gather, Allied crews were considered heroes for flying 30 or 40 - can you imagine flying 658 ??

Peter

[knusel]

Good morning Peter,

Hansgeorg Bätcher flew the He 111 and the Ar 234. Thus, if you're looking for the greatest pilot who flew a certain bomber type, he's the man for both of them.
Werner Baumbach should be considered the top Ju 88 pilot because he's though to be the most successful bomber pilot against shipping. If you prefer to rank successful pilots by missions flown in the type Otto Leupert might be a suitable alternative.
Rudolf Mons was one of the top Fw 200 pilots because of his anti-shipping success.
Are there any notable Do 17 pilots ?

Cheers,

Michael

[PMoz99]

Good evening Michael,
Yes, Baumbach is a special character. His achievements in only some (perhaps) 200 missions were outstanding.
Mons was Dochterman's GrK at II./KG40 flying He177s at the time of his death in Nov 1943, and he did have some time in non-combat roles - I have no information about number of missions flown for him.
As for Do17, I think Benno Herrmann is the highest 'ranking ace' who flew one, early-mid 1940 with 3./KG76. But for some strange reason, unit aircraft details in the early war period are not available, so one cannot be certain and sub-type information is not available, at least not to me.
I think Herbert Kuntz flew Do217 at some point.
Cheers
Peter