What British aircraft shoot down the most Germans on the WF?

**john snelling** · 08-20-2015 11:24

The answer:
Camel = 1,407 Destroyed, 1,305 Out of control, 106 Balloons = 2,818 claims
SE5 = 1,371 Destroyed, 1,100 Out of control, 170 Balloons = 2,641 claims
Bristol F2b = 743 Destroyed, 768 Out of control, 10 Balloons = 1,521 claims
Nieuport = 248 Destroyed, 384 Out of control, 60 Balloons = 692 claims
DH4 = 164 Destroyed, 351 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 515 claims
FE2 = 211 Destroyed, 270 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 481 claims
DH9 = 195 Destroyed, 222 Out of control, 4 Balloons = 421claims
Dolphin = 191 Destroyed, 141 Out of control, 10 Balloons = 342 claims
Triplane = 100 Destroyed, 211 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 311 claims
Pup = 116 Destroyed, 182 Out of control, 4 Balloons = 302 claims
Spad = 118 Destroyed, 178 Out of control, 3 Balloons = 299 claims
DH2 = 87 Destroyed, 80 Out of control, 5 Balloons = 172 claims
RE8 = 105 Destroyed, 47 Out of control, 2 Balloons = 154 claims
1½ Strutter = 57 Destroyed, 83 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 140 claims
DH5 = 39 Destroyed, 56 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 95 claims
BE2 = 42 Destroyed, 39 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 81 claims
Snipe = 29 Destroyed, 22 Out of control, 2 Balloons = 53 claims
FE8 = 27 Destroyed, 22 Out of control, 1 Balloons = 50 claims
Morane = 18 Destroyed, 20 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 38 claims
AW FK8 = 17 Destroyed, 12 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 29 claims
FB5 = 11 Destroyed, 14 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 25 claims
Martinsyde = 7 Destroyed, 17 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 24 claims
Bristol Scout = 5 Destroyed, 11 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 16 claims
Unknown = 3 Destroyed, 5 Out of control, 2 Balloons = 10 claims
BE12 = 5 Destroyed, 2 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 7 claims
Avro = 2 Destroyed, 1 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 3 claims
Sopwith Baby = 0 Destroyed, 1 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 1 claim
FBA = 1 Destroyed, 0 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 1 claim
O/400 = 0 Destroyed, 1 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 1 claim
RE7 = 0 Destroyed, 1 Out of control, 0 Balloons = 1 claim

Does that mean the Camel was the best? No, this kind of data does not support or deny that claim.
It does not take into account that Camels were more numerous and the fact they were more deadly to their own pilots.
But, the Camel was also used in the ground support role and at generally at lower altitudes than other fighters.
So it is up to you to decide.

Grammar getting tougher the older you get. Shoot should be shot.

**Jager** · 08-20-2015 11:31

Interesting data. Of course, as we know, claims doesn't mean destroyed always.
Also interesting that the Camel and the Se.5 combined had more than the rest combined, by a lot.

Karl

**fast.git** · 08-20-2015 11:35

This is probably one of those arguments that will never be settled satisfactorily.

Peter Hart, in Aces Falling: War Above the Trenches, discusses the relative merits of both Camel and SE5a. Major Sholto Douglas of 84 Squadron believed the SE5 to be the most successful of the single seat scouts of the war due to its speed (even at altitude), ruggedness, reliable engine, and ability to remain stable in a dive. On the other side of the equation, Capt. Harry Balfour believed the Camel to be more than a handful when in a turning fight with German scouts, as it could turn inside the Pfalz and Albatros scouts they commonly faced.

**john snelling** · 08-20-2015 12:05

Originally Posted by fast.git

This is probably one of those arguments that will never be settled satisfactorily.

Peter Hart, in Aces Falling: War Above the Trenches, discusses the relative merits of both Camel and SE5a. Major Sholto Douglas of 84 Squadron believed the SE5 to be the most successful of the single seat scouts of the war due to its speed (even at altitude), ruggedness, reliable engine, and ability to remain stable in a dive. On the other side of the equation, Capt. Harry Balfour believed the Camel to be more than a handful when in a turning fight with German scouts, as it could turn inside the Pfalz and Albatros scouts they commonly faced.

Agreed!!!
I really like the SE-5a in WOG and Camels are not to bad either.
They were used differently. Both combined with the Bristol managed to wrestle air control from the Germans starting mid to late 1917.
May the sun be behind your back,
John

**Flying Helmut** · 08-20-2015 15:04

Thoroughly absorbing information once again.
Many thanks, John!

**grumpybear** · 08-20-2015 15:38

Interesting but not surprised Camel and SE5a are on top

**Dom S** · 08-20-2015 15:55

I must confess my first thought reading that lot is "which nutcase went balloon busting in a DH9...?" I can conceive that the couple of RE-8 balloon kills might have arisen as a case of wrong place wrong time, but for a DH9 to get a balloon, it must've gone looking....

**john snelling** · 08-20-2015 16:34

Originally Posted by Dom S

I must confess my first thought reading that lot is "which nutcase went balloon busting in a DH9...?" I can conceive that the couple of RE-8 balloon kills might have arisen as a case of wrong place wrong time, but for a DH9 to get a balloon, it must've gone looking....

I was thinking "a target of opportunity" right place at the right time for the DH9.

**Dom S** · 08-20-2015 16:47

Maybe, but it doesn't fit their usual mission profile - the corps 2-seaters had to play in the mud at times, but British bomber doctrine would have them way too high to encounter balloons before they even crossed the lines.

**fast.git** · 08-20-2015 17:40

Originally Posted by grumpybear

Interesting but not surprised Camel and SE5a are on top

That's a fair point. They were both, in their own way, world-beaters.

At lower altitudes and in a "dogfight," the Camel could out-turn the most common German scouts... and it could outrun the Fokker triplanes. Though out-classed in many ways by the Fokker D.VII, there were 3,000 more Camels kicking around than D.VIIs. And, although the SE5a was better than the Camel in many ways (one could argue marginally so, and it would be a matter of preference)... the engine teething problems kept it from the front in numbers until early 1918.

Although I'm fond of the Sopwith (I started off as a Camel Driver way back in the day

), the SE5a is my kite of choice.

**Teaticket** · 08-20-2015 17:53

I'm really surprised that the SPAD is so low. I guess the British didn't use that many of them.

**fast.git** · 08-20-2015 18:55

Originally Posted by Teaticket

I'm really surprised that the SPAD is so low. I guess the British didn't use that many of them.

Only 19 and 23 Squadrons flew SPAD S.VIIs on the Western Front (from Feb 1917), with 30 Squadron flying them in Mesopotamia. 19 Sqn traded their SPADs in for Dolphins in Jan 1918, with 23 Sqn following in April.

The British were concerned about the SPAD's firepower deficit, and British-made SPADs suffered from quality control issues... so the type wasn'the as popular as the more powerful Camels and SE5s entering service in 1917.

**Naharaht** · 08-20-2015 23:10

Thank you for compiling this list, John. It highlights some interesting facts.

**Teaticket** · 08-21-2015 05:17

Originally Posted by fast.git

Only 19 and 23 Squadrons flew SPAD S.VIIs on the Western Front (from Feb 1917), with 30 Squadron flying them in Mesopotamia. 19 Sqn traded their SPADs in for Dolphins in Jan 1918, with 23 Sqn following in April.

The British were concerned about the SPAD's firepower deficit, and British-made SPADs suffered from quality control issues... so the type wasn'the as popular as the more powerful Camels and SE5s entering service in 1917.

Thanks Chris. I know so little on squadron make up, thank for the enlightnement.