Commonwealth P40 Aces

[Vinman]

Hi Rick,
That might very well be right. But, form what I have read in the book, it sure sounds like the 3 Ind + 2 Sh (5) does in fact include the 2 ground kills.
Anyway, thanks for the info.
Vinman.

[Graham Boak]

I fear that with such a purist view you'll be disappointed with other books in the Osprey Aces series too. For example, I've just bought the Griffon Spitfire Aces, and there are four Mk.XIIs despite Harries being the only pilot to score 5 kills with the type. Plus it contains the aircraft of such total non-achievers as Johnson, Lacey and Duncan Smith.

[Nick Beale]

I think you have to accept that the Osprey Aces series allow themselves a flexible defintion. If they didn't you sometimes wouldn't have a book at all. In the RAF, my understanding was that no official score totals were maintained (although IIRC numbers destroyed were sometimes given in press releases and award citations) and there was no formal "ace" status, so Osprey have some editorial latitude.

I buy their RAF/Commonwealth books for a compact overview of operations by the type of aircraft concerned. With a manageable topic like the Typhoon/Tempest or Griffon Spits the 96-page format works well. Personally I'm not that bothered by scores and rankings, especially when "confirmed" victories don't always hold up against the historical records now available, so Osprey can "cheat" if they like!