List of World War I aces credited with 20 or more victories
Introduction 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
Aces  Name  Country  Air service(s)   Victories  Note †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 80 The Red BaronPLM plus 22 other awards   ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 75 Top Allied and French aceCdeLd'h, MM(Fr), CdeG, BCdeG, MC, MM   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 72 Top Canadian and British Empire aceVC, CB, DSO*, MC, DFC. ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 62 PLM, HOH, IC †  Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 61 Top British ace. Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 60 Top Royal Naval Air Service aceDSO*, DSC, DFC, OSA, CdeG †  Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 57 VC, DSO*, MC*, MM, CdeG   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 54 Top South African aceVC, DSO, MC*, DFC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 54 PLM, IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 54 DSO, MC*, CdeLd'h, CdeG †  ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 53 CdeLd'h, MM(Fr), CdeG, DSO, OLII   Royal Flying Corps,  Royal Air Force 50 VC, DSO*, MC**, MMV*(Silver), CdeG   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 48 PLM, IC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 48 PLM, HOH, IC †  Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 47 Top Australian aceDSO*, DSC*, CdeG †  Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 47 Top Irish aceMC**, DFC* †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 45 PLM, IC †  Royal Flying Corps 44 VC, DSO**, MC, OSG   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 44 PLM, MOSH, IC  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 44 PLM, HOH, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 43 PLM, MMC(P), IC, WB   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 43 DSO, MC, DFC*   ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 43 CdeLd'h, MM(Fr), CdeG, DSC, MC, BCdeG, DSC(US)   ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 41 CdeLd'h, MM(Fr), CdeG †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 40 PLM, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 40 PLM, MOSH, HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 40 DSO, MC*, AFC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 40 PLM, HOH, IC †  Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 39 DSO, DSC*   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 39 Top observer aceMC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 39 DSO, MC** †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 39 PLM, HOH, MOMJ, IC   Royal Naval Air Service,  Royal Air Force 39 DSC*, DFC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 39 PLM, HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 38 Leading 2 seater pilot of warMC*   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 37 DSO, DFC*   Belgian Military Aviation 37 Top Belgian and balloon busting ace of warOL, OWE, OC, CdeG, BCdeG, CdeLd'H, DSO, MC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 37 DSO, MC, DFC*, MM   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 36 PLM,  HOH, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 36 PLM, MMC(P), IC, sole award of Gold WB   Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 36 DFC**, AFC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 36 PLM, MOMJ, IC  †  ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 35 CdeLd'h, MM(Fr), CdeG    ''Luftfahrtruppen'' 35 Top Austro-Hungarian aceOIC, OL, MFB, MMM, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 35 MMC(P), IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 35 PLM, MMC(P), HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 35 DSO, MC*, DFC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 35 PLM, IC, MOMJ   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 35 PLM, HOH, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 35 PLM, HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 35 DSO, MC*, CdeLd'h †  ''Corpo Aeronautico Militare'' 34 Top Italian aceMMV(Gold), MMV**(Silver),  MC, CdeG, OC †  ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 34 CdeLd'h, MM(Fr), MC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 33 PLM, HOH, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 33 PLM, HOH, IC †  Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 33 DSO, MC* †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 33 PLM, HOH, IC   ''Luftfahrtruppen'' 32 MFB (1 gold and 4 silver)   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 32 DSO, MC*, DFC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 32 MOSH, IC   Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 32 DSO, DSC*, DFC*   ''Marinefliegerkorps'' 32 Also World War II acePLM, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 31 IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force, Canadian Air Force 31 Top two-seater ace for UKDSO, MC*, DFC   ''Marinefliegerkorps'' 31 PLM, HOH, IC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 30 PLM, HOH, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 30 PLM, HOH, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 30 IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 30 PLM, IC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 30 PLM, HOH, IC †  Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 30 MC, DFC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 29 HOH, IC, WB †  Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 29 DSC, CdeG   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 29 MC, DFC   Australian Flying Corps 29 DSO, DFC**   Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 29 DSC*, DFC*   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 28 PLM, IC   ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 28 CdeLd'h, CdeG †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 28 PLM, MOSH, IC †  Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 28 DSO*, CdeG   ''Luftfahrtruppen'' 28 OIC, OL, MMC(AH), MMM, MFB, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 28 PLM, IC, MOMJ   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 28 DFC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 28 MC*   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 28 MC, DFC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 28 PLM, HOH, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 28 PLM, HOH, IC, MOMJ   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 27 PLM, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 27 MMC(P), IC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 27 PLM, HOH, IC †  ''Luftfahrtruppen'' 27 OIC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 27 MC, DFC*, MMV   Royal Flying Corps 27 DFC   ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 27 CdeLd'h, MM(Fr), CdeG, MC †  Royal Flying Corps 27 DSO, MC*   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 27 DFC*   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 27 PLM, MMC(P), HOH, IC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 27 PLM, HOH, IC, MOMJ   Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 27 DSC*, DFC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 27 PLM, HOH, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 26 PLM, IC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 26 PLM, HOH, IC, MOMJ   Royal Flying Corps 26 Observer aceDFM   Royal Flying Corps 26 MC, DFC*   Australian Flying Corps 26 DSO, DFC   Royal Flying Corps 26 DFC, MC, AFC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 26 HOH, IC   US Army Air Service 26 Top US aceMOH, DSC(US), CdeLd'h, CdeG   ''Corpo Aeronautico Militare'' 26 MMV(Gold), MMV*(Silver)   Royal Flying Corps 26 DSO*, MC, DFC*   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 26 MC, DFC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 25 PLM, IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 25 Top New Zealander aceMC, DFC*   Royal Flying Corps 25 DSC**, DFC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 25 HOH, IC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 25 PLM, IC †  Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 25 DSC* †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 24 PLM, HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 24 DSO, MC*, MMV   Royal Flying Corps 24 Observer aceMC †  Royal Flying Corps 24 MC*   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 24 IC †  Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 24 Observer ace. All victories in 1918MC*. First MC awarded while junior infantry officer. ''Corpo Aeronautico Militare'' 24 MMV**(Silver)   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 24 DFC*   Royal Flying Corps 24 MC*, DFC   Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 23 DSC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 23 HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps 23 DSO, MC* †  ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 23 CdeLd'h, MM(Fr), CdeG   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 23 DSO, MC*, AFC, MMV †  ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 23 CdeLd'h, MM(Fr), CdeG   Royal Flying Corps 23 DSO, DFC*   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 23 MC, DFC   Royal Flying Corps 23 DSO, DFC*   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 22 PLM, HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps 22 DFC*, BCdeG   ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 22 CdeLd'h, MM(Fr), CdeG †  Royal Flying Corps 22 MC* †  Royal Flying Corps 22 MC, DFC, CdeG   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 22 PLM, HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps 22 MC*   Royal Air Force 22 Observer aceDFM* †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 22 IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 22 HOH, IC   ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 22 CdeLd'h, MM(Fr), CdeG   Royal Flying Corps 22 DFC*, BCdeG †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 22 IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 22 DFC*, BCdeG †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 22 PLM, HOH, IC †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 21 HOH   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 21 MMC(P), IC, WB   ''Corpo Aeronautico Militare'' 21 MMV(Gold) †  Royal Flying Corps 21 Observer aceMC*   Royal Air Force 21 DFC, MM †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 21 PLM, HOH, IC   ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 21 CdeLd'h, CdeG †  Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force 21 DFC* †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 21 HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps 21 DSO, MC* †  Royal Flying Corps 21 MC   Australian Flying Corps 21 DSO, DFC*   Royal Naval Air Service 21 DSC**   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 21 HOH, IC †  Royal Flying Corps 21 DSO, MC, DFC †  Royal Flying Corps 20 MC** †  Royal Flying Corps 20 MC*   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 20 HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 20 DFC   ''Aéronautique Militaire'' 20 CdeLd'h, CdeG †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 20 HOH, IC, Bulgarian Order for Bravery in War †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 20 PLM, HOH, IC  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 20 IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 20 DFC*, BCdeG †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 20 HOH, IC   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 20 MMC, IC   Australian Flying Corps 20 DFC   Imperial Army Air Service 20 Top Russian aceOSG, OSV, OSS, OSA, DSO, MC, DFC, CdeLd'h, CdeG   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 20 PLM, HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 20 DFC*   Royal Flying Corps 20 MC, DFC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 20 MC*, DFC, CdeG †  ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 20 HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force, South African Air Force 20 CBE, DFC*, BCdeG   ''Corpo Aeronautico Militare'' 20 MMV(Gold), MMV*(Silver), MMV***(Bronze)   ''Luftstreitkräfte'' 20 HOH, IC   Royal Flying Corps 20 DFC †  Royal Flying Corps 20 MC*
Analysis  Group  Country  Pilots  Victories  Vic/Pil  Rank Allied   Australia  8  226  28.25  8 Axis   Austria-Hungary  4  122  30.50  5 Allied   Belgium  1  37  37.00  1 Allied   Canada  24  785  32.71  3 Allied   France  14  467  33.36  2 Axis   German Empire  75  2296  30.61  4 Allied   Italy  5  125  25.00  9 Allied   New Zealand  2  45  22.50  11 Allied   Russia  1  20  20.00  12 Allied   South Africa  7  207  29.57  6 Allied   United Kingdom  45  1296  28.80  7 Allied   United States  2  46  23.00  10 Grouping  Pilots  Victories  Vic/Pil Axis  79  2418  30.61 Allied  109  3254  29.85 TOTAL  188  5672  30.17}
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References