Summary
- Erich Alfred Hartmann downed 352 Allied Aircraft in 825 combat occasions.
- Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub became the highest-scoring Soviet pilot during World War II.
- Marmaduke Thomas St John Pattle shot down 20 aircraft in March 1941.
Fighting aces in World War II were based on the number of kills, downed aircraft, and over victories that individuals have claimed. While the exact criteria of an ace vary by region, it is given to individuals who have shot down five or more aircraft during World War II operations. This article captures the top five fighter aces of World War II.
1
Erich Alfred Hartmann
Shot down 352 Allied Aircraft
| Origin | German fighter pilot |
| Combat missions flew | 1,404 |
| Aerial combat participation | 825 occasions |
| Aircraft shot down | 352 |
| Number of times the pilot was forced to crash-land his aircraft | 16 |
| Number of times shot down by a direct enemy target | 0 |
Erich Alfred Hartmann was a German fighter pilot during the Second World War who was designated as the most successful fighter ace in aerial warfare history. He participated in 825 separate combat occasions and flew over 1,400 combat missions, primarily using a Messerschmitt Bf 109G aircraft.
Photo: Kev Gregory | Shutterstock
The pilot initially began his service on Junkers Ju 87 Stukas with the Luftwaffe. While the criteria for fighter ace accreditation with German forces is unclear, Hartmann was credited with shooting down 352 Allied aircraft, including seven American aircraft and 345 Soviet planes. Hartmann’s first kill was within months of service when he downed an Illyushin II-2 with his Bf 109 G-2.
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2
Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub
Solo victories: 60+
| Origin | Soviet (Russian) fighter |
| Combat missions flew | Nearly 1,000 |
| Solo victories | 64 |
| First to shoot down | A Messerschmitt Me 262 jet |
| Number of occasions he received the “Hero of the Soviet Union” title | 3 |
Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub, a Soviet Union fighter, is ranked the highest-scoring Soviet pilot who achieved victories over numerous aircraft during World War II. He became the first Soviet pilot to shoot down a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet, which only a few other pilots managed to claim after him.
Photo: Arkady Zakharov l Shutterstock
Kozhedub was named the Hero of the Soviet Union on three occasions during World War II: February 1944, August 1944, and August 1945. He served in the military even after the end of the Second World War and commanded the 324th Fighter Aviation Division during the Korean War.
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3
Marmaduke Thomas St John Pattle
Number of aircraft shot down in one month: 20
| Origin | South African-born English fighter |
| Number of aircraft shot down in March 1941 | 20 |
| Shot down five or more aircraft in one day | Three times |
| Claimed six victories on | April 19, 1941 |
| Number of occasions he received the “Ace in a Day” title | 3 |
Marmaduke Thomas St John (Pat) Pattle was a South African-born English fighter pilot and flying ace during the Second World War. The Squadron Leader mostly flew Hawker Hurricanes, claiming most of his victories. In March 1941, of many aircraft that were downed by the Royal Air Force (RAF), Pat Pattle claimed 20 of those.
He shot down five or more aircraft in a single day on three different occasions, qualifying for the “Ace in a Day” title multiple times. The pilot’s greatest success was achieved on April 19, 1941, when he claimed six victories.
The following day, on April 20, having claimed more victories than any other Western Allied pilot, Pattle engaged German fighters without orders. He was killed during a dogfight with a Messerschmitt Bf 110 when his Hawker Hurricane crashed in the sea.
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4
Richard “Dick” Ira Bong
Recipient of the Medal of Honor
| Origin | American fighter pilot |
| Number of Japanese aircraft shot down | 40 |
| Test pilot | P-80 Shooting Star |
| Death | At the age of 24, while performing the acceptance test of the P-80 |
Richard Bong was one of World War II’s most celebrated American fighter pilots. The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) major received the Medal of Honor in WWII. The Lockheed P-38 Lightning pilot was credited with shooting down at least 40 Japanese aircraft.
Photo: Santiparp Wattanaporn l Shutterstock
With his command of the P-38, he was assigned to become a test pilot on the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star jet fighter. Bong performed several test flights of the P-80 aircraft, with a total of over four hours on the new jet. On August 6, 1945, at the age of 24, Bong was killed during a P-80 acceptance flight. Bong was posthumously inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 1986.
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5
Tetsuzō Iwamoto
Nicknamed: Zero Fighter Ace and Tiger Tetsu
| Origin | Japanese Imperial Navy pilot |
| Number of victories | 80+ |
| Victories in China | 14 |
| Special markings on his planes | Cherry blossom flowers |
Iwamoto Tetsuzō was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) fighter pilot who is remembered as one of the top-scoring aces in the Imperial Navy. Beginning his combat service in 1938 in China, he emerged as one of the top aces during the Second World War.
Photo: Santiparp Wattanaporn | Shutterstock
Nicknamed Tiger Tetsu, he was credited with 80 aerial victories, 14 of which were in China. He flew the Mitsubishi A6M “Zero,” a carrier-based fighter aircraft, and was also known as the Zero Fighter Ace. Iwamoto was known to have special cherry blossom flower markings on his planes. A single flower depicted a shot-down enemy fighter, while a double flower depicted a bomber aircraft.
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