[WWI] Fw: Re: Red Baron got lucky? New Scientist News - Famous flying ace no hotshot after all

[J.R. Boye]

     Who's paying for these studies, anyway ?
     It's so easy to sit in a comfortable computer lab and diminish the
accomplishments of past generations.
     Of COURSE there is luck involved. Here is another study that just
states what is obvious by common sense.
     But NO ONE got a confirmed record of 80 victories purely by "luck".
The skilled pilots increased their odds dramatically by paying attention
to many factors - attack position, timing, extra attention to their
aircraft, checking guns and ammo, target practice, etcetera.
      Mssrs. Roychowdury and Simkin should read M. von Richthofen's
Combat Manual. Then they would realise this "lucky" pilot had a very
systematic and deliberate METHOD for attack that was successful time
after time. Two seaters were not considered "easy prey" from all of the
accounts I have read - quite the opposite. Von Richthofen did shoot down
B.E. 2s - but also Sopwith Camels.
       This reminds me of that scene in Monty Python's Holy Grail where
the "Famous Historian" is explaining the medieval situation. His
knowledge gives him an air of superiority, yet he is no match for the
knight who suddenly appears. 
       One wonders how these "scientists" would fare in place of the
pilots whose exploits they belittle. They probably better stick to their
computer games...
 
                                                 J.R. Boye    ( stepping
down now )