fighter ace
Elite combat pilot
A fighter ace is a military pilot credited with shooting down at least five enemy aircraft.
The threshold varies slightly by country and era, but five kills became the standard benchmark.
Aces achieved celebrity status in both World Wars: The Red Baron was Germany's most famous fighter ace.
The term sometimes extends metaphorically to anyone who excels at combat or competition.
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- dogfightClose combat between aircraft
- air combatWarfare between aircraft
- squadronMilitary aviation unit
- cockpitPilot's control compartment
victory · kills · kill count · spitfire · mustang · Red Baron · medals · war hero · wings · flight suit · aerial · combat · heroic · baron · daredevil · barrel roll · maneuver · evasion
- Aviation HistoryWright Brothers, Wright Flyer, Wright brothers, Kitty Hawk, first flight
- Fighter Pilotscombat pilot, dogfighter, wingman, squadron leader, flight leader
- WehrmachtWehrmacht, Luftwaffe, Panzer, Waffen-SS, Rommel
- War Rolessoldier, general, sergeant, lieutenant, colonel
combatant role
fighter acetarget
Object of pursuit
victim · casualty · sitting duck · cannon fodder · prey