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Alex Vraciu, ‘Indestructible’ Ace of World War II, Dies at 96
The New York Times ^
| February 7, 2015
| SAM ROBERTS
Posted on 02/10/2015 9:10:59 AM PST by Timber Rattler
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To: Timber Rattler; colorado tanker; Homer_J_Simpson
Vraciu was a true ace. RIP.
2
posted on
02/10/2015 9:13:31 AM PST
by
henkster
(Do I really need a sarcasm tag?)
To: Timber Rattler
Still, he downed the dive bombers firing only 360 of the 2,400 bullets in his arsenal.
One of the annoying things about the online flight simulators I used to fly was how many rounds had to hit an enemy to shoot them down. Especially with those lousy planes with the 7.62 ammo. and only 2 guns.
e.g.
Polikarpov I-16
3
posted on
02/10/2015 9:18:39 AM PST
by
cuban leaf
(The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
To: Timber Rattler
Still, he downed the dive bombers firing only 360 of the 2,400 bullets in his arsenal.I admit I don't know much about air to air combat, but I have to say, this guy was a crack pilot and a crack shot.
FMCDH(BITS)
4
posted on
02/10/2015 9:26:04 AM PST
by
nothingnew
(Hemmer and MacCullum are the worst on FNC)
To: Timber Rattler
5
posted on
02/10/2015 9:26:11 AM PST
by
SkyDancer
(I Was Told Nobody Is Perfect But Yet, Here I Am ...)
To: Timber Rattler
I guess he was the top Ace for a period of time? Lots of guys got more than 19.
Our pilots pale in comparison to German Luftwaffe aces who scored hundreds of kills. The max being 352. Of course the Luftwaffe didn’t rotate their pilots out.
To: Timber Rattler
Holy crap! through the eiffel tower!
7
posted on
02/10/2015 9:28:57 AM PST
by
longfellow
(Bill Maher, the 21st hijacker.)
To: Timber Rattler
Lt. (jg) Alexander Vraciu in his Grumman F6F Hellcat after the "Mission Beyond Darkness" during the Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 20, 1944)
Not many long shots of him but we got 19 confirms on #19 in this close up
Maybe it's the photograph, but that thing looks like your favorite hot rod, looks like shit but goes like hell .. ride
8
posted on
02/10/2015 9:29:12 AM PST
by
knarf
(I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but, they're true)
To: ImJustAnotherOkie
To: longfellow
Hot rod barnstormers did better ... they went through barns.
Kind'a like a big truck goin' through a hole in the wall ... LOOKS tight, but plenty of room
10
posted on
02/10/2015 9:34:07 AM PST
by
knarf
(I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but, they're true)
To: Timber Rattler
Ummm someone overlooked Richard Bong - highest scoring air ace?
11
posted on
02/10/2015 9:36:07 AM PST
by
corkoman
To: corkoman
OK Bong was US Army Air Corps. Corpse!
Bong and 2 others did a LOOP over/above the Golden Gate Bride.
12
posted on
02/10/2015 9:38:20 AM PST
by
corkoman
To: Timber Rattler
13
posted on
02/10/2015 9:40:13 AM PST
by
SMARTY
("When you blame others, you give up your power to change." Robert Anthony)
To: ImJustAnotherOkie
The US didn't allow pilots to rack up scores as they became too valuable as instructors to new recruits. The biggest problem facing the Japs and Nazis was the loss of experienced pilots that could teach others how to fight. The Turkey Shoot was a clear example of the Japs not having anyone left who knew how to fly.
14
posted on
02/10/2015 9:41:18 AM PST
by
Boiler Plate
("Why be difficult, when with just a little more work, you can be impossible" Mom)
To: corkoman
Bong and McGuire both had more kills in P38s from land bases. The scariest part of a Navy pilot’s sortie was the landing, which was pretty tough back then.
15
posted on
02/10/2015 9:43:42 AM PST
by
Boiler Plate
("Why be difficult, when with just a little more work, you can be impossible" Mom)
To: Timber Rattler; henkster; Homer_J_Simpson
Mr. Vraciu entered combat in 1943 as part of Fighting Squadron 6, serving as wingman for Lt. Cmdr. Butch OHare, the Navys first combat pilot ace and its first aviator to receive the Medal of Honor in World War II.He fought a long war.
To: knarf
You’ve got to hand it to the kraut for trying that to get him off his tail.
Buddy of mine was a pilot in Vietnam. His nickname was “glue”. Once he got on your tail you were not getting him off.
17
posted on
02/10/2015 9:55:01 AM PST
by
longfellow
(Bill Maher, the 21st hijacker.)
To: Boiler Plate
* to wit Read Samurai by Martin Cadin
18
posted on
02/10/2015 9:58:02 AM PST
by
Bidimus1
To: ImJustAnotherOkie
"Our pilots pale in comparison to German Luftwaffe aces who scored hundreds of kills."
Yes, but mostly against the Russians who were flying decidedly inferior airplanes.
19
posted on
02/10/2015 9:59:46 AM PST
by
Buffalo Head
(Illigitimi non carborundum)
To: longfellow
Let’s not confuse Capt Overstreet, the guy that chased a German under Eiffel with the headliner of this thread .. Capt Alex Vraciu
20
posted on
02/10/2015 10:06:02 AM PST
by
knarf
(I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but, they're true)
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