Michael Wittmann

[gary g stevens]

Michael Wittman without A doubt is the greatest tank ace in history.In James lucas book,he credits him with one hundred and seventeen kills on the eastern front alone.Max Hastings also wrote of his achievements at the battle of Villers Bocoge in Normandy.Im very interested in what his total kills were before his death in August of 1944.

[Hagen]

Wittman's tally was 141 tanks and 132 anti-tank guns, mostly on the eastern front.

[gary g stevens]

Thank you for your reply Hagen.The way wars are fought now,I doubt this record will be surpassed. At least I hope not.

[Hagen]

He was a warrior thats for sure, check your PM for a message I sent you.

[Klaus]

That's correct gary. The way wars are fought today I sure that there are numerous record kills which will never be broken. Imagine one American Soldier destroying 141 Panzer in Iraq.

[Tom Houlihan]

Originally Posted by Klaus

Imagine one American Soldier destroying 141 Panzer in Iraq.

Well, first they would have had that many turn and fight!

I believe the days of major battles and campaigns like those fought in WWII are gone. That's a good thing, I think. I might prefer to fight a war like that rather than these insurgencies that seem so de rigeur today!

[Hagen]

The WW2 record I find most astonishing is Erich Hartmanns 352 aerial victories. I know that the Soviet planes and pilots weren't always the best but 352 is still an incredible tally.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by Hagen

The WW2 record I find most astonishing is Erich Hartmanns 352 aerial victories. I know that the Soviet planes and pilots weren't always the best but 352 is still an incredible tally.

I have to agree with that. An amazing number!

[sniper1shot]

You are all forgetting that Hartman started his climb when it was well into the middle of the war. Imagine what it would of been had he been fighting from the start.

Let us not forget Hans Ulrich Rudel, the Stuka Pilot with over 500 tanks and a couple of ships to his credit too. That is not mentioning the light vehicles or anti-tank guns either.

The fact the both Hartman and Rudel survived the war is incredible too.

[Tom Houlihan]

Not to disparage Hartmann's record, but remember too that the Germans counted planes killed on the ground as well. Not all of his victories were air-to-air combat.