Author Topic: Any Neutral Country Aces?  (Read 457 times)

Offline Halo

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Any Neutral Country Aces?
« 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?
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Offline Furball

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Any Neutral Country Aces?
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2004, 11:57:12 AM »
I am not ashamed to confess that I am ignorant of what I do not know.
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Offline Jester

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Any Neutral Country Aces?
« 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.
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Offline wasq

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Any Neutral Country Aces?
« 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.

Offline Angus

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Any Neutral Country Aces?
« 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?
It was very interesting to carry out the flight trials at Rechlin with the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Both types are very simple to fly compared to our aircraft, and childishly easy to take-off and land. (Werner Mölders)

Offline Halo

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Any Neutral Country Aces?
« 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.
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. (Seneca, 1st century AD, et al)
Practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty. (Anne Herbert, 1982, Sausalito, CA)
Paramedic to Perkaholics Anonymous