List of World War I Aces credited with 20 or more victories - wikipedia List of World War I Aces credited with 20 or more victories Manfred von Richthofen, the most successful flying ace of World War I wearing the Pour le Mérite, Prussia 's highest military order in this official portrait, c. 1917 See also : Flying ace, Aerial victory standards of World War I, and Aviation in World War I The term `` ace '' ( now commonly flying ace ) was first used by French newspapers during World War I, describing Adolphe Pégoud as l'as ( the ace ), after he downed five German aircraft. When aircraft began to shoot or force down other aircraft, systems to count `` air victories '' were subsequently developed. The American qualification of five victories eventually became the standard, even though other air services had previously used differing figures. The Nieuport 17, a French biplane fighter aircraft of World War I While `` ace '' status was most often won by fighter pilots, bomber and reconnaissance crews, and observers in two - seater aircraft such as the Bristol F. 2b ( Bristol Fighter ), also destroyed enemy aircraft. If a two - seater aircraft destroyed an aircraft, both crew members were credited with a victory. Because pilots usually teamed with differing observer / gunners in two - seater aircraft, an observer might be an ace when his pilot was not, and vice versa. The few aces among combat aviators have historically accounted for the majority of air - to - air victories in military history. Loss of records by mischance and the passage of time complicates reconstructing the actual count for given aces. The scores presented in the list can not be definitive, but are based on itemized lists that are the best available sources of information. Aces are listed after verifying the date and location of combat, and the foe vanquished, for every victory accredited by an aviator 's home air service using their own aerial victory standards. Those victories for which the evidence is unavailable or fragmentary have been excluded from the victory count. List of World War I aces by victory count : 6 7 8 9 10 11 -- 14 15 -- 19 + 20 Contents 1 List of World War I aces by victory count : 2 Aces 3 Notes 4 References 4.1 Bibliography Aces This list is complete. Notable aces are linked to their biographies. This along with the symbolic sword †, indicates that the pilot was known to be either killed in action, missing in action, died of wounds, or killed in a flying accident during World War I. Name Country Air service ( s ) Victories Note von Richthofen, Manfred Manfred von Richthofen † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 80 The Red Baron PLM plus 22 other awards Fonck, René René Fonck France Aéronautique Militaire 75 Top Allied and French ace CdeLd'h, MM ( Fr ), CdeG, BCdeG, MC, MM Bishop, Billy Billy Bishop Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 72 Top Canadian and British Empire ace VC, CB, DSO *, MC, DFC. Udet, Ernst Ernst Udet German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 62 PLM, HOH, IC Mannock, Edward Edward Mannock † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 61 Top British ace VC, DSO * *, MC *. Collishaw, Raymond Raymond Collishaw Canada Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 60 Top Royal Naval Air Service ace DSO *, DSC, DFC, OSA, CdeG McCudden, James James McCudden † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 57 VC, DSO *, MC *, MM, CdeG Beauchamp - Proctor, Andrew Andrew Beauchamp - Proctor South Africa Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 54 Top South African ace VC, DSO, MC *, DFC Löwenhardt, Erich Erich Löwenhardt † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 54 PLM, IC MacLaren, Donald Donald MacLaren Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 54 DSO, MC *, CdeLd'h, CdeG Guynemer, Georges Georges Guynemer † France Aéronautique Militaire 53 CdeLd'h, MM ( Fr ), CdeG, DSO, OLII Barker, William George William George Barker Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 50 VC, DSO *, MC * *, MMV * ( Silver ), CdeG Jacobs, Josef Josef Jacobs German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 48 PLM, IC Voss, Werner Werner Voss † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 48 PLM, HOH, IC Little, Robert A. Robert A. Little † Australia Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 47 Top Australian ace DSO *, DSC *, CdeG McElroy, George George McElroy † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 47 MC * *, DFC * Rumey, Fritz Fritz Rumey † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 45 PLM, IC Ball, Albert Albert Ball † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 44 VC, DSO * *, MC, OSG Berthold, Rudolf Rudolf Berthold German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 44 PLM, MOSH, IC Loerzer, Bruno Bruno Loerzer German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 44 PLM, HOH, IC Bäumer, Paul Paul Bäumer German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 43 PLM, MMC ( P ), IC, WB Hazell, Tom F. Tom F. Hazell United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 43 DSO, MC, DFC * Nungesser, Charles Charles Nungesser France Aéronautique Militaire 43 CdeLd'h, MM ( Fr ), CdeG, DSC, MC, BCdeG, DSC ( US ) Madon, Georges Georges Madon France Aéronautique Militaire 41 CdeLd'h, MM ( Fr ), CdeG Boelcke, Oswald Oswald Boelcke † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 40 PLM, IC Büchner, Franz Franz Büchner German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 40 PLM, MOSH, HOH, IC Fullard, Philip F. Philip F. Fullard United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 40 DSO, MC *, AFC von Richthofen, Lothar Lothar von Richthofen German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 40 PLM, HOH, IC Dallas, Roderic Roderic Dallas † Australia Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 39 DSO, DSC * Gass, Charles George Charles George Gass United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 39 Top scoring observer ace MC Gilmour, John Inglis John Inglis Gilmour United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 39 DSO, MC Gontermann, Heinrich Heinrich Gontermann † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 39 PLM, HOH, MOMJ, IC Jordan, William Lancelot William Lancelot Jordan South Africa Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 39 DSC *, DFC Menckhoff, Carl Carl Menckhoff German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 39 PLM, HOH, IC Atkey, Alfred Alfred Atkey Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 38 Leading 2 seater pilot of war MC * Claxton, William Gordon William Gordon Claxton Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 37 DSO, DFC * Coppens, Willy Willy Coppens Belgium Belgian Military Aviation 37 Top Belgian ace, Leading balloon buster of war OL, OWE, OC, CdeG, BCdeG, CdeLd'H, DSO, MC Jones, James Ira Thomas James Ira Thomas Jones United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 37 DSO *, MC, DFC * Bolle, Karl Karl Bolle German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 36 PLM, HOH, IC Buckler, Julius Julius Buckler German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 36 PLM, MMC ( P ), IC, sole award of Gold WB Fall, Joseph Stewart Temple Joseph Stewart Temple Fall Canada Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 36 DFC * *, AFC von Müller, Max Ritter Max Ritter von Müller † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 36 PLM, MOMJ, IC Boyau, Maurice Maurice Boyau † France Aéronautique Militaire 35 CdeLd'h, MM ( Fr ), CdeG Brumowski, Godwin von Godwin von Brumowski Austria - Hungary Luftfahrtruppen 35 Top Austro - Hungarian ace. OIC, OL, MFB, MMM, IC Dörr, Gustav Gustav Dörr German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 35 MMC ( P ), IC Könnecke, Otto Otto Könnecke German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 35 PLM, MMC ( P ), HOH, IC McCall, Frederick Frederick McCall Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 35 DSO, MC *, DFC von Schleich, Eduard Ritter Eduard Ritter von Schleich German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 35 PLM, IC, MOMJ Thuy, Emil Emil Thuy German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 35 PLM, HOH, IC Veltjens, Josef Josef Veltjens German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 35 PLM, HOH, IC Woollett, Henry Winslow Henry Winslow Woollett United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 35 DSO, MC *, CdeLd'h Baracca, Francesco Francesco Baracca † Italy Corpo Aeronautico Militare 34 Top Italian ace MMV ( Gold ), MMV * * ( Silver ), MC, CdeG, OC Coiffard, Michel Michel Coiffard † France Aéronautique Militaire 34 CdeLd'h, MM ( Fr ), MC Bongartz, Heinrich Heinrich Bongartz German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 33 PLM, HOH, IC Kroll, Heinrich Heinrich Kroll German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 33 PLM, HOH, IC Quigley, Frank Granger Frank Granger Quigley † Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 33 DSO, MC * Wolff, Kurt Kurt Wolff † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 33 PLM, HOH, IC Arigi, Julius Julius Arigi Austria - Hungary Luftfahrtruppen 32 MFB ( 1 gold and 4 silver ) Bowman, Geoffrey Hilton Geoffrey Hilton Bowman United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 32 DSO, MC *, DFC Frommherz, Hermann Hermann Frommherz German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 32 MOSH, IC Kinkead, Samuel Samuel Kinkead South Africa Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 32 DSO, DSC *, DFC * Osterkamp, Theodor Theodor Osterkamp German Empire Marinefliegerkorps 32 Also World War II ace PLM, IC Billik, Paul Paul Billik German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 31 IC McKeever, Andrew Edward Andrew Edward McKeever Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force, Canadian Air Force 31 Top two - seater ace for UK DSO, MC *, DFC Sachsenberg, Gotthard Gotthard Sachsenberg German Empire Marinefliegerkorps 31 PLM, HOH, IC Allmenröder, Karl Karl Allmenröder † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 30 PLM, HOH, IC Auffarth, Harald Harald Auffarth German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 30 HOH, IC, WB Degelow, Carl Carl Degelow German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 30 PLM, HOH, IC Mai, Josef Josef Mai German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 30 IC Neckel, Ulrich Ulrich Neckel German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 30 PLM, IC Schäfer, Karl Emil Karl Emil Schäfer † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 30 PLM, HOH, IC Thompson, Samuel Frederick Henry Samuel Frederick Henry Thompson † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 30 MC, DFC Booker, Charles Dawson Charles Dawson Booker † United Kingdom Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 29 DSC, CdeG Clayson, Percy Jack Percy Jack Clayson United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 29 MC, DFC Cobby, Harry Harry Cobby Australia Australian Flying Corps 29 DSO, DFC * * Rochford, Leonard Henry Leonard Henry Rochford United Kingdom Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 29 DSC *, DFC * Blume, Walter Walter Blume German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 28 PLM, IC Bourjade, Léon Léon Bourjade France Aéronautique Militaire 28 CdeLd'h, CdeG von Bülow - Bothkamp, Walter Walter von Bülow - Bothkamp † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 28 PLM, MOSH, IC Carter, Albert Desbrisay Albert Desbrisay Carter † Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 28 DSO *, CdeG von Fernbrugg, Benno Fiala Ritter Benno Fiala Ritter von Fernbrugg Austria - Hungary Luftfahrtruppen 28 OIC, OL, MMC ( AH ), MMM, MFB, IC von Greim, Robert Ritter Robert Ritter von Greim German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 28 PLM, IC, MOMJ Gurdon, John Everard John Everard Gurdon United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 28 DFC Hoidge, Reginald Reginald Hoidge Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 28 MC * Latimer, Dennis Dennis Latimer United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 28 MC, DFC Laumann, Arthur Arthur Laumann German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 28 PLM, HOH, IC von Röth, Friedrich Ritter Friedrich Ritter von Röth German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 28 PLM, HOH, IC, MOMJ Bernert, Fritz Otto Fritz Otto Bernert German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 27 PLM, IC Fruhner, Otto Otto Fruhner German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 27 MMC ( P ), IC Kirschstein, Hans Hans Kirschstein † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 27 PLM, HOH, IC Linke - Crawford, Frank Frank Linke - Crawford † Austria - Hungary Luftfahrtruppen 27 OIC McEwen, Clifford Clifford McEwen Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 27 MC, DFC *, MMV Middleton, Thomas Percy Thomas Percy Middleton United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 27 DFC Pinsard, Armand Armand Pinsard France Aéronautique Militaire 27 CdeLd'h, MM ( Fr ), CdeG, MC Davids, Arthur Rhys Arthur Rhys Davids † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 27 DSO, MC * Soden, Frank Ormond Frank Ormond Soden Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 27 DFC * Thom, Karl Karl Thom German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 27 PLM, MMC ( P ), HOH, IC von Tutschek, Adolf Ritter Adolf Ritter von Tutschek † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 27 PLM, HOH, IC, MOMJ Whealy, Arthur Arthur Whealy Canada Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 27 DSC *, DFC Wüsthoff, Kurt Kurt Wüsthoff German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 27 PLM, HOH, IC von Boenigk, Oskar Freiherr Oskar Freiherr von Boenigk German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 26 PLM, IC von Dostler, Eduard Ritter Eduard Ritter von Dostler † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 26 PLM, HOH, IC, MOMJ Fletcher, Ronald Malcolm Ronald Malcolm Fletcher United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 26 Observer ace DFM Harvey, William Frederick James William Frederick James Harvey United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 26 MC, DFC * King, Elwyn Elwyn King Australia Australian Flying Corps 26 DSO, DFC Maxwell, Gerald Joseph Constable Gerald Joseph Constable Maxwell United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 26 DFC, MC, AFC Näther, Max Max Näther † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 26 HOH, IC Rickenbacker, Eddie Eddie Rickenbacker United States US Army Air Service 26 Top US ace MOH, DSC ( US ), CdeLd'h, CdeG Scaroni, Silvio Silvio Scaroni Italy Corpo Aeronautico Militare 26 MMV ( Gold ), MMV * ( Silver ) Staton, William Ernest William Ernest Staton United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 26 DSO *, MC, DFC * Thomson, William McKenzie William McKenzie Thomson Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 26 MC, DFC von Beaulieu - Marconnay, Olivier Freiherr Olivier Freiherr von Beaulieu - Marconnay † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 25 PLM, IC Caldwell, Keith Keith Caldwell New Zealand Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 25 Top New Zealander ace MC, DFC * Compston, Robert J.O. Robert J.O. Compston United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 25 DSC * *, DFC von Hantelmann, Georg Georg von Hantelmann German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 25 HOH, IC Pütter, Fritz Fritz Pütter † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 25 PLM, IC Rosevear, Stanley Wallace Stanley Wallace Rosevear † Canada Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 25 DSC * Böhme, Erwin Erwin Böhme † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 24 PLM, HOH, IC Carpenter, Peter Peter Carpenter United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 24 DSO, MC *, MMV Hayward, George S.L. George S.L. Hayward United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 24 Observer ace MC Luchford, Harry G.E. Harry G.E. Luchford † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 24 MC * Meyer, Georg Georg Meyer German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 24 IC Noel, Tom Cecil Tom Cecil Noel † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 24 Observer ace MC * Piccio, Pier Ruggero Pier Ruggero Piccio Italy Corpo Aeronautico Militare 24 MMV * * ( Silver ) Shields, William Ernest William Ernest Shields Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 24 DFC * Slater, James Anderson James Anderson Slater United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 24 MC *, DFC Alexander, William Melville William Melville Alexander Canada Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 23 DSC Becker, Hermann Hermann Becker German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 23 HOH, IC Campbell, William Charles William Charles Campbell United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 23 DSO, MC * Dorme, René René Dorme † France Aéronautique Militaire 23 CdeLd'h, MM ( Fr ), CdeG Frew, Matthew Brown Matthew Brown Frew United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 23 DSO, MC *, AFC, MMV Guerin, Gabriel Gabriel Guerin † France Aéronautique Militaire 23 CdeLd'h, MM ( Fr ), CdeG Lale, Howard Percy Howard Percy Lale United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 23 DSO, DFC * Pentland, Alexander Alexander Pentland Australia Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 23 MC, DFC Whistler, Harold Harold Whistler United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 23 DSO, DFC * Göring, Hermann Hermann Göring German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 22 PLM, HOH, IC Harrison, Thomas Sinclair Thomas Sinclair Harrison South Africa Royal Flying Corps 22 DFC *, BCdeG Haegelen, Marcel Marcel Haegelen France Aéronautique Militaire 22 CdeLd'h, MM ( Fr ), CdeG Jenkin, Louis Fleeming Louis Fleeming Jenkin † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 22 MC * King, Cecil Frederick Cecil Frederick King † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 22 MC, DFC, CdeG Klein, Hans Hans Klein German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 22 PLM, HOH, IC Leacroft, John John Leacroft United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 22 MC * Newland, Arthur Ernest Arthur Ernest Newland United Kingdom Royal Air Force 22 Observer ace DFM * Pippart, Hans Martin Hans Martin Pippart † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 22 IC Preuss, Werner Werner Preuss German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 22 HOH, IC Marinovitch, Pierre Pierre Marinovitch France Aéronautique Militaire 22 CdeLd'h, MM ( Fr ), CdeG Roxburgh - Smith, Benjamin Benjamin Roxburgh - Smith United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 22 DFC *, BCdeG Schlegel, Karl Karl Schlegel † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 22 IC White, Joseph Leonard Maries Joseph Leonard Maries White Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 22 DFC *, BCdeG Windisch, Rudolf Rudolf Windisch † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 22 PLM, HOH, IC von Adam, Hans Hans von Adam † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 21 HOH Altemeier, Friedrich Friedrich Altemeier German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 21 MMC ( P ), IC, WB Baracchini, Flavio Flavio Baracchini Italy Corpo Aeronautico Militare 21 MMV ( Gold ) Cubbon, Francis Francis Cubbon † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 21 Observer ace MC * Edwards, Harold Leslie Harold Leslie Edwards Canada Royal Air Force 21 DFC, MM Friedrichs, Friedrich Friedrich Friedrichs † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 21 PLM, HOH, IC Heurtaux, Alfred Alfred Heurtaux France Aéronautique Militaire 21 CdeLd'h, CdeG Hickey, Charles Charles Hickey † Canada Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 21 DFC * Höhn, Fritz Fritz Höhn † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 21 HOH, IC Kennedy - Cochran - Patrick, William John Charles William John Charles Kennedy - Cochran - Patrick United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 21 DSO, MC * Maybery, Richard Richard Maybery † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 21 MC McCloughry, Edgar Edgar McCloughry Australia Australian Flying Corps 21 DSO, DFC * Minifie, Richard Richard Minifie Australia Royal Naval Air Service 21 DSC * * Noltenius, Friedrich T. Friedrich T. Noltenius German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 21 HOH, IC Thomson, George Edwin George Edwin Thomson † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 21 DSO, MC, DFC Barlow, Leonard Monteagle Leonard Monteagle Barlow † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 20 MC Bell, Douglas John Douglas John Bell † South Africa Royal Flying Corps 20 MC * Bethge, Hans Hans Bethge German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 20 HOH, IC Conn, Kenneth Burns Kenneth Burns Conn Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 20 DFC Deullin, Albert Albert Deullin France Aéronautique Militaire 20 CdeLd'h, CdeG von Eschwege, Rudolf Rudolf von Eschwege † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 20 HOH, IC, Bulgarian Order for Bravery in War Frankl, Wilhelm Wilhelm Frankl † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 20 PLM, HOH, IC Freden, Hans von Hans von Freden German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 20 IC Gillet, Francis W. Francis W. Gillet United States Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 20 DFC *, BCdeG Göttsch, Walter Walter Göttsch † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 20 HOH, IC Hennrich, Oskar Oskar Hennrich German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 20 MMC, IC Johnston, Edgar Edgar Johnston Australia Australian Flying Corps 20 DFC Kazakov, Alexander Alexander Kazakov Russia Imperial Army Air Service 20 Top Russian ace OSG, OSV, OSS, OSA, DSO, MC, DFC, CdeLd'h, CdeG Kissenberth, Otto Otto Kissenberth German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 20 PLM, HOH, IC Lagesse, Camille Camille Lagesse Canada Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 20 DFC * McDonald, Ian Donald Roy Ian Donald Roy McDonald United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 20 MC, DFC Park, Keith Keith Park New Zealand Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 20 MC *, DFC, CdeG Reinhard, Wilhelm Wilhelm Reinhard † German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 20 HOH, IC Ross, Charles G. Charles G. Ross South Africa Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force, South African Air Force 20 CBE, DFC *, BCdeG Ruffo di Calabria, Fulco Fulco Ruffo di Calabria Italy Corpo Aeronautico Militare 20 MMV ( Gold ), MMV * ( Silver ), MMV * * * ( Bronze ) Schmidt, Otto Otto Schmidt German Empire Luftstreitkräfte 20 HOH, IC Southey, Walter Walter Southey South Africa Royal Flying Corps 20 DFC Thayre, Frederick Frederick Thayre † United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps 20 MC * Top Legend Awards : Allies Central Powers External links Notes ^ Speculation about Bishop 's claims, particularly his 2 June 1917 mission which earned him a Victoria Cross ( VC ), have persisted. ^ Although various claim - by - claim analyses ascribe Dallas a score of 32 aircraft shot down, he was officially credited with 39, and his actual tally could number in the 50s. ^ Auffarth may actually 31. References Jump up ^ Maksel, Rebecca ( 7 April 2008 ). `` What does it take to become an `` ace '' ? ``. Need to Know. Air & Space Magazine. Retrieved 20 October 2009. Jump up ^ Above the Lines : The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914 -- 1918. p. 10. Jump up ^ How to Make War, p. 149. Jump up ^ Above the Trenches : A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915 -- 1920. p. 7 ^ Jump up to : Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 241 -- 242 Jump up ^ Guttman, 2002. p. 20 ^ Jump up to : Shores, 2001. p. 89 Jump up ^ Shores, Frank, Guest 1990, pp. 255 - 256. Jump up ^ Franks, 2004. pp. 68 -- 69 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. pp. 43 -- 44 Jump up ^ Franks, 2007. p. 41 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. pp. 28 -- 29 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. pp. 56 -- 58 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. p. 51 Jump up ^ See victory list in linked article ; it was compiled from Above the Lines, Australian Hawk Over the Western Front, Australian Air Aces, Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War I. Jump up ^ Guttman, 2007. pp. 29 -- 31, 87 ^ Jump up to : Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 239 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. p. 71 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 169 -- 171 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. pp. 60 -- 61 ^ Jump up to : Chant, 2002. p. 90 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. p. 76 Jump up ^ Guttman, 2002. p. 93 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 81 -- 82 Jump up ^ Franks, 2003. pp. 12 -- 13 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 75 Jump up ^ Guttman, 2002. pp. 65 -- 66 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 90 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 119 -- 120 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 153 -- 154 ^ Jump up to : Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 236 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 70 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 111 -- 112 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 142 -- 143 ^ Jump up to : Franks, 2003. p. 88 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. pp. 61 -- 62 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 215 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 219 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 233 -- 234 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 101 -- 102 ^ Jump up to : Guttman, 2007. p. 87 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. p. 74 Jump up ^ Franks, 2001. p. 86 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. pp. 81 -- 82 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 68 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 123 -- 124 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 77 -- 78 ^ Jump up to : Guttman, 2007. p. 88 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. pp. 78 -- 79 Jump up ^ Franks, 2003. p. 31 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 68 -- 69 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. pp. 44 -- 45 Jump up ^ Guttman, 2002. pp. 11, 91 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 117 Jump up ^ Guttman, 2002. p. 18 Jump up ^ Franks, 2003. pp. 56 -- 57 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 182 -- 183 Jump up ^ Guttman, 2002. p. 31 -- 32 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 230 -- 231 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 59 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 60 -- 61 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. pp. 76 -- 77 Jump up ^ Shores, 2001. p. 87 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. p. 45 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 73 ^ Jump up to : Guttman, 2007. p. 86 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. p. 46 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 104 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 108 -- 109 Jump up ^ Franks, 2001. p. 88 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 118 -- 119 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. pp. 83 -- 84 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 143 -- 144 Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. p. 186 Jump up ^ Franks, 2000. p. 79 Jump up ^ Greenhous, Brereton. `` Billy Bishop - Brave Flyer, Bold Liar. '' Archived 2011 - 07 - 06 at the Wayback Machine. Canadian Military Journal Volume 3, Issue 3, Autumn 2002, pp. 61 -- 64. Retrieved 15 November 2009. Jump up ^ Shores, 1990. p. 132 ^ Jump up to : Newton, 1996. pp. 32 -- 34 Jump up ^ Wixted, E.P. ( 1981 ). `` Dallas, Roderic Stanley ( 1891 -- 1918 ) ''. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra : Australian National University. Retrieved 16 August 2009. Jump up ^ Garrison, A.D. ( 1999 ). Australian Fighter Aces 1914 -- 1953 ( PDF ). Canberra : Air Power Development Centre. pp. 27, 51 -- 56. ISBN 0 - 642 - 26540 - 2. Jump up ^ Franks, Bailey, Guest, 1993. pp. 63 -- 64 Bibliography Dunnigan, James F. ( 2003 ). How to Make War : A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Warfare in the Twenty - first Century. HarperCollins. ISBN 978 - 0 - 060090 - 12 - 8. Durkota, Allen ; Darcey, Thomas ; Kulikov, Victor ( 1995 ). The Imperial Russian Air Service : Famous Pilots and Aircraft of World War I. Mountain View : Flying Machines Press. 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Oxford : Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978 - 1 - 846034 - 17 - 6. Guttman, Jon ( 2001 ). Spad VII Aces of World War I : Volume 39 of Aircraft of the Aces. Oxford : Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978 - 1 - 841762 - 22 - 7. Kulikov, Victor ( 2013 ). Russian Aces of World War 1 : Aircraft of the Aces. Oxford : Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978 - 1 - 780960 - 61 - 6. Newton, Dennis ( 1996 ). Australian Air Aces : Australian Fighter Pilots in Combat. Motorbooks International. ISBN 978 - 1 - 875671 - 25 - 0. Pieters, Walter M. ( 1998 ). Above Flanders Fields : A Complete Record of the Belgian Fighter Pilots and Their Units During the Great War. Oxford : Grub Street. ISBN 978 - 1 - 898697 - 83 - 1. Shores, Christopher ( 2001 ). British and Empire Aces of World War I. Oxford : Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978 - 1 - 84176 - 377 - 4. Shores, Christopher ; Franks, Norman ; Guest, Russell ( 1990 ). Above the Trenches : A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915 -- 1920. Oxford : Grub Street. ISBN 978 - 0 - 948817 - 19 - 9. Shores, Christopher ; Franks, Norman ; Guest, Russell ( 1996 ). Above the Trenches Supplement : A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces. Oxford : Grub Street. ISBN 978 - 1 - 898697 - 39 - 8. hide Aviation in World War I People and aircraft Commanders Aces Aircraft of the Entente Powers Aircraft of the Central Powers Zeppelins Campaigns and battles Strategic bombing German Cuxhaven Bombing of cities Aerial reconnaissance Fokker Scourge Flight over Vienna Bloody April Battles Entente Powers air services British air services Royal Flying Corps Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force Australian Flying Corps Canadian Air Force ( 1918 -- 20 ) French Air Service Imperial Russian Air Service Royal Italian Air Corps United States Army Air Service Greek air services Army Air Service Naval Air Service Central Powers air services Imperial German Air Service Austro - Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops Ottoman Aviation Squadrons Bulgarian Army Aeroplane Section hide Flying aces World War I Argentina Australia Austrian aces Austro - Hungary Belgium British Empire Canada Czech aces Croatian aces Ecuador Estonian aces Fiji German Empire Hungary Italy India Latvia Lithuanian aces New Zealand Polish aces Russian Empire Serbia Slovakian aces Swaziland Switzerland United States World War II By country Australia Austria Belgium Bulgaria Canada China Croatia Czechoslovakia Denmark Finland France ( Vichy France ) Germany ( Jet aces, night fighter ) Hungary Italy Ireland Japan New Zealand Norway Poland Romania Slovakia South Africa Southern Rhodesia Soviet Union United Kingdom Spain United States Other wars Spanish Civil War Korean War Vietnam War General Canada Egypt Greece Iran Israel Russia Syria Aces of aces Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_World_War_I_aces_credited_with_20_or_more_victories&oldid=845951403 '' Categories : Lists of World War I flying aces Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Articles with hCards Featured lists Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Español Português Română Edit links This page was last edited on 15 June 2018, at 07 : 41. 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Question: who was america's leading ace of ww1
Answer: Eddie Rickenbacker