[El Gato]

The MSM won't be making such distinctions. Heck numbers 4 and 5 had nothing to do with anything he did or did not do. One through three are his though.

Those Germans you cite also shot down a bunch of allied aircraft, making them celebrities. McCain didn't have that opportunity, although the Scooter could have stayed with a Mig for a few rounds, if the opportunity had been there.

[Polybius]

The MSM won't be making such distinctions. Heck numbers 4 and 5 had nothing to do with anything he did or did not do. One through three are his though.

Actually, the only people I have ever heard criticize McCain over his aircraft losses have been right here on Free Republic.

They even credit a loss to him in the USS Forrestal tragedy. What did they expect him to do? Put his Star Trek shields up?

Those Germans you cite also shot down a bunch of allied aircraft, making them celebrities. McCain didn't have that opportunity, although the Scooter could have stayed with a Mig for a few rounds, if the opportunity had been there.

Then again, McCain was in attack squadrons and not fighter squadrons.

When Udet was in a bombing squadron, he once screwed up so badly that he was court-martialed for bad judgment and spent 7 days in the brig.