Jack of Diamonds | Eddie Rickenbacker
about 7 years ago – Fri, Oct 27, 2017 at 03:48:57 PM

Great News! All of the Ace Illustrations have been completed. I will be sending each one to you in the next few weeks.

Next up...

Jack of Diamonds | Eddie Rickenbacker

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (October 8, 1890 – July 23, 1973) was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. With 26 aerial victories, he was America's most successful fighter ace in the war. He was also considered to have won the most awards for valor by an American during the war. He was a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.

Most men chosen for pilot training had college degrees and Rickenbacker had to struggle to gain permission to fly because of his perceived lack of academic qualifications. He learned to fly well, but because his mechanical skills were so highly valued, Rickenbacker's superiors tried to prevent him from attaining his wings with the other pilots.

Rickenbacker demonstrated that he had a qualified replacement, and the military awarded him a place in one of America's air combat units, the 94th Aero Squadron, informally known as the "Hat-in-the-Ring" Squadron after its insignia. On April 29, 1918, Rickenbacker shot down his first plane. On May 28, he claimed his fifth to become an ace. Rickenbacker was awarded the French Croix de Guerre that month for his five victories.

On September 24, 1918, now a captain, he was named commander of the squadron, and on the following day, he claimed two more German planes.Thirteen more wins followed in October bringing his total to thirteen Fokker D.VIIs, four other German fighters, five highly defended observation balloons, and only four of the easier two-seated reconnaissance planes.

The military determined ace status by verifying combat claims by a pilot, but confirmation, too, was needed from ground witnesses, affirmations of other pilots, or observation of the wreckage of the opposing enemy aircraft. If no witnesses could be found, a reported kill was not counted. It was an imperfect system, dependent on the frailties of human observation, as well as vagaries of weather and terrain. Most aces' records are thus 'best estimates', not 'exact counts'. Nevertheless, Rickenbacker's 26 victories remained the American record until World War II.

- Referenced from Wikipedia

-Jody

Jack of Spades | Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor
about 7 years ago – Tue, Oct 24, 2017 at 03:54:22 PM

Jack of Spades | Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor

For the Jack of Spades I chose to include Andrew Beauchamp the highest victory count from South Africa. On each card I include each Aces victory count. Beauchamp had 54 victories.

I am making good progress on all of the courts, so my next post will be Thursday.

FUNDED!!!!
about 7 years ago – Tue, Oct 24, 2017 at 03:31:08 PM

Aviation is proof that given, the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible.

- Eddie Rickenbacker

Most of the impossible things are only in our heads. This is true, because I once thought having a successful Kickstarter project was impossible, but now I have seen eight :)

WE ARE FUNDED!!!

Thank you all for your support for Top Aces. The best is yet to come. I hope you are all excited to hear about some of the most courageous Men of World War I. First up is Manfred Von Richthoffen A.K.A "The Red Baron". No, he wasn't just the fictional Nemesis of Snoopy, he was real. 

Manfred Von Richthoffen 

A.K.A "The Red Baron"

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (2 May 1892 – 21 April 1918), also known as the "Red Baron", was a fighter pilot with the German Air Force during World War I. He is considered the ace-of-aces of the war, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories.

Originally a cavalryman, Richthofen transferred to the Air Service in 1915, becoming one of the first members of Jasta (fighter squadron) 2 in 1916. He quickly distinguished himself as a fighter pilot, and during 1917 became leader of Jasta 11 and then the larger unit Jagdgeschwader (fighter wing) 1, better known as "The Flying Circus" or "Richthofen's Circus" because of the bright colours of its aircraft, and perhaps also because of the way the unit was transferred from one area of allied air activity to another - moving like a travelling circus, and frequently setting up in tents on improvised airfields. By 1918, Richthofen was regarded as a national hero in Germany, and respected by his enemies.

Richthofen was shot down and killed near Vaux-sur-Somme on 21 April 1918. There has been considerable discussion and debate regarding aspects of his career, especially the circumstances of his death. He remains one of the most widely known fighter pilots of all time, and has been the subject of many books, films and other media.

- Referenced from Wikipedia

Thank you all again and look for more great stories to come.

- Jody