Here is an interesting bit of trivia for you.
In World War I, there were more aircraft than most people think.
Total Aircraft (total airframes) 1914-1918
Great Britian 58,144
Germany 47,637
France 67,982
Italy 20,000
Russia 4,700
Austro-Hungarian 5,431
United Sates 15,000
Total 218,894
The US Combat aircraft were provided by the allies (US only produced
trainers)
France 4,881
Britian 258
Italian 19
Total 5,158
Source: FIGHTER by Bryan Cooper & John Batchelor
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Air combat, American pilots were credited with the following
victories.
WW I 721 enemy aircraft
WW II 18,798 enemy aircraft
Korea 893 enemy aircraft
Viet Nam 137 enemy aircraft
Gulf War 38 enemy aircraft
Total 20,587 enemy aircraft
Source: Major Ritchie (one of only two aces in Viet Nam)
during an interview on Military Channel
|
|