Author Topic: Any Neutral Country Aces? (Read 468 times)

Halo · « **on:** April 01, 2004, 09:47:42 PM »

Furball's interesting addition of a Swiss aircraft in the Aircraft category evokes a corollary question: Are there any fighter aces from nations neutral in WWII, e.g., Switzerland and Sweden?

If so, what type aircraft did they fly?

Furball · « **Reply #1 on:** April 03, 2004, 11:57:12 AM »

http://www.sci.fi/~fta/f19-1.htm

found this

Jester · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2004, 11:33:19 PM »

If they were from a Neutral country - who would they be fighting against long enough for pilots to rack up 5 kills?

Considering the number of pilots even in a small air force you would have to have prolonged contact with the enemy to get enough engagements to produce Aces.

From what I have read - most of the time when enemy aircraft entered the neutral countries airspace (Sweden & Switzerland) they escorted them to the nearest airfield and then interned their crews and confiscated the planes. Both Switerzerland and Sweden gained several aircraft for their air forces doing this.

wasq · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2004, 01:46:36 AM »

The F19 was indeed from a neutral country (Sweden), but they were fighting in Finland in Winter War so they were not actually in their own country when they were fighting.

Angus · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2004, 07:08:40 PM »

Iceland was neutral and provided 1 ace, but he flew for the RAF as a volunteer. Does that one count?

Halo · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2004, 09:08:02 PM »

Sure, Iceland ace is certainly valid -- I had forgotten Iceland was neutral in WWII in spite of being occupied by British and U.S. forces.