YOUNGEST FIGHTER ACE OF WORLD WAR II
Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:33 am
Who was the youngest fighter pilot to achieve ace status in world war II?
My vote would be for pilot officer (p/o) claude "weavy" weaver iii from oklahoma city, oklahoma.
"weavy" quit school and enlisted for pilot training in the royal canadian air force (rcaf) at age seventeen (quite possibly age 16) and earned his wings in eight months!
In 1942, as a sergeant pilot flying a spitfire v with 185 squadron defending the island of malta, he shot down 5.5 german aircraft over a seven day period and he was only eighteen (possibly seventeen)!
He went on to run his score to 12.5 victories, earning a dfm and dfc.
Anyone know of anyone younger?
Cheers,
Tom walsh.
My vote would be for pilot officer (p/o) claude "weavy" weaver iii from oklahoma city, oklahoma.
"weavy" quit school and enlisted for pilot training in the royal canadian air force (rcaf) at age seventeen (quite possibly age 16) and earned his wings in eight months!
In 1942, as a sergeant pilot flying a spitfire v with 185 squadron defending the island of malta, he shot down 5.5 german aircraft over a seven day period and he was only eighteen (possibly seventeen)!
He went on to run his score to 12.5 victories, earning a dfm and dfc.
Anyone know of anyone younger?
Cheers,
Tom walsh.
????
Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:56 am
Dale Karger of the 357th FG made ace at 19.
Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:08 pm
Claude Weaver was born on 18th August 1923, so his 5th victory being on 24th July 1942 means he was a month short of his 19th birthday when achieving 'ace' status.
Erich Hartmann didn't become an ace until 21.....but had scored 203 by the time of his 22nd birthday.....
Erich Hartmann didn't become an ace until 21.....but had scored 203 by the time of his 22nd birthday.....
Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:39 am
Firebird wrote:Claude Weaver was born on 18th August 1923, so his 5th victory being on 24th July 1942 means he was a month short of his 19th birthday when achieving 'ace' status.
Erich Hartmann didn't become an ace until 21.....but had scored 203 by the time of his 22nd birthday.....
There's a novel idea in there somewhere....
Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:53 am
There's a book called "Prince of Aces: The Story of the Tsar's Nephew, World War II's Youngest Fighter Pilot" by Colin D. Heaton, about the Tsar of Russia's nephew, Prince Leonidas Maximciuc. Could he have been the youngest ace?
Some listings for the book substututes the word Ace for Pilot at the end of the title.
Some listings for the book substututes the word Ace for Pilot at the end of the title.
Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:15 am
Dave,
By all accounts this person is completely fictious.
See here http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=738382&highlight=&sid=cbb46d8d4722c7967fe14c30811c8cdf
By all accounts this person is completely fictious.
See here http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=738382&highlight=&sid=cbb46d8d4722c7967fe14c30811c8cdf
Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:20 am
Firebird wrote:Dave,
By all accounts this person is completely fictious.
See here http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=738382&highlight=&sid=cbb46d8d4722c7967fe14c30811c8cdf
Someone beat me to it!
Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:20 pm
DOES ANYONE HAVE OR KNOW WHERE THERE ARE ANY PICTURES OF CLAUDE WEAVER III?
I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ANY.
CHEERS,
TOM WALSH.
I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ANY.
CHEERS,
TOM WALSH.
Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:41 am
Sorry, the sites I found about the book, including Amazon.co.uk, didn't seem to indicate it was fiction. I take it all back then.