Werner Mölders was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot, wing commander, and the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War. He became the first pilot in aviation history to shoot down 100 enemy aircraft and was highly decorated for his achievements. Mölders developed fighter tactics that led to the finger-four formation. He died in a plane crash as a passenger.
Mölders as Oberstleutnant
Kurfürstenhaus (left) in Brandenburg, purchased by the Riedel family in 1902.
Schwarm formation and cross-over turn
Theo Osterkamp's birthday party on 15 April 1941; from left to right: Major Wenzel (Mölders' aide), Adolf Galland, Mölders and Osterkamp.
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually considered to be five or more.
The "first French ace", Frenchman Adolphe Pégoud being awarded the Croix de guerre.
Manfred von Richthofen, known as the "Red Baron", scored the most officially accepted kills (80) in World War I and is arguably the most famous flying ace of all time.
French Colonel Rene Fonck, to this day the highest-scoring Allied flying ace with 75 victories.
Erich Hartmann, with 352 official kills the highest scoring fighter pilot of all time.
