We all know MvR as "the Red Baron", what were the others known as?
Max Immelmann, the Eagle of Lille
We all know MvR as "the Red Baron", what were the others known as?
Max Immelmann, the Eagle of Lille
The Sentinel of Verdun, Jean Navarre
The Black Knight, Eduard-Maria Joseph Ritter von Schleich
The Iron Eagle, Paul Baumer
Last edited by Teaticket; 06-21-2018 at 07:45.
Good ones, Peter
following this thread with much interest!!!
Kurt Wolff was known in his squadron as "zarte Blümlein" (means "delicate little flower"),
Sapiens qui vigilat... "He is wise who watches"
http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=33210
This thread has some more names.
African-American pilot Eugene Jacques Bullard flew with the French Airforce and was known as 'The Black Swallow of Death'. He was turned down for service as a pilot with the U.S. forces when they entered the war.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Bullard
The German ace Josef Jacobs was known as "Kobes" which apparently means small or little due to his statute & he had it painted on one of his early Albatross.
Rudolph von Eschwege, The Eagle of the Aegean.
Apparently the Germans called Billy Bishop 'Hell's Handmaiden'. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bishop
Austro-Hungarian ace Oberleutnant Frank Linke-Crawford commanding officer of Fliegerkompanie 60J (Flik60J) was known as der Falke von Feltre (the Falcon of Feltre).
It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus
Gerhard Fieseler known as the “Tiger of Macedonia”
Here are a few more I have found.
Hartmuth Baldamus was called "Professor"
Berthold was the Iron Knight
Joseph Veltjens was Seppi
Ludwig Beckmann was Lutz
Oswald Boelcke was called "Der Alte"
"The Mad Major" – Christopher Draper, British World War I fighter ace
"Timbertoes" – Sydney Carlin, Battle of Britain gunner who lost a leg in World War I
Interesting entries, wonder how I missed this thread until now.
Pete, most excellent!
"The Eagle of Crimea" – Pavel V. Argeyev, Russian World War One flying ace
History Guy short: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=84yGPsehrkc
Keith Caldwell was nicknamed Grid - He referred to aircraft as "grids", or bicycles, a habit which earned him his nickname.
Frank Soden was nicknamed Mongoose -
Spencer Horn was nicknamed the N word - different times.
William Molesworth was nicknamed Moley
All aces that served at some point with 60 sqn
William MacLanachan was nicknamed McScotch - served with Edward 'Mick' Mannock in 40 sqn along with George McElroy who was McIrish !
Wilford May (of MvR fame) was nicknamed Wop
And a couple of chaps who became better known in ww2 - Hugh Dowding was nicknamed Stuffy; Trafford leigh Mallory was Taffy.
Last edited by flash; 10-03-2019 at 11:27.
Sapiens qui vigilat... "He is wise who watches"
Seems that 56 squadron were big on nicknames.
McCudden was "Mac"
David Wilkinson was "Pud"
Geoffrey Bowman was "Beery"
Cyril Crowe was "Billy"
Hoidge was "Georgie"
and Keith Muspratt, Arthur Rhys Davids & M H Coote were collectively known as "the Children" due to their ages.
All above from Alex Revell's superb "No. 56 Squadron RFC/RAF" from Ospreys Aviation Elite Unit series.
That video about Eugene Bullard was a good 'find', Joe.
Thanks to all for bringing this collection of pilot nicknames together.
Not really specific to English: it's just that phrases like this are usually idiomatic, wherein a word-for-word translation doesn't really catch the full sentiment. Andother example of a word-for-word translation not actually expressing the meaning of a phrase is Udet's "Du doch nicht!!"
I've usually seen it translated by english-speakers as "Definitely not you!" (more or less word-for-word, taking into account the differing grammar between English & German), but what does it really express? Well, its a taunt. A native English speaker, trying to express the same taunt would more likely say "You, and who else?" The implication in each case, is that the object of the taunt isn't good enough to take down the speaker.
Idioms.
"Devil's Henchman/Devil's Handmaiden" Pretty much the same idea, just expressed a little idiomatically in two different languages.
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