--- title: "These pilots became aces in a single day during WWI" description: "There’s a shortlist of aces who got their title in a single day. Check out the list of pilots who are among the top aces of WWI." date: "2022-05-16" modified: "2023-05-19" authors: - name: "Bethaney Phillips" job_title: "Contributor, Veteran Spouse" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/bethaneyphillips/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/aces-of-wwi-top-pilots/" categories: - "History" - "War History" - "World War I" --- # These pilots became aces in a single day during WWI ![wwi aces]() *A SPAD S.XIII at Air Service Production Center No. 2, Romorantin Aerodrome, France, 1918.* In order to be named as a pilot ace, a [military pilot]() has to shoot down five targets. The title of flying ace shows that a pilot has proven their aim, skill, and ability to stay in the sky … as they are shooting down enemy targets. It’s an honor that most military pilots strive to achieve, and those who do earn this honor spend ample time achieving this monumental task. However, there’s a shortlist of aces who got their title in a single day, that is, they shot down all five of their listed enemy planes in a single 24-hour period. ## Check out the list of pilots who are among the top aces of WWI ### Julius Arigi and his gunner, Johann Lasi, of the Austro-Hungarian Air Force The title was earned for the first time in 1916 when the duo took down five Italian planes in late August with their most successful flight of their careers. ![julius arigi top aces of wwi]() *Austria-Hungary flying hero, Julius Arigi, was one of the top aces of WWI.* The first time the goal was achieved by a single pilot was in April of 1917 when [German pilot Fritz Otto Bernert]() downed five planes within 20 minutes. Perhaps even more impressive is that he did so with a single arm; Bernert’s left arm couldn’t be used. ### Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor from the Royal Air Force He was the top-scoring South African pilot and became a one-day ace in 1918. ### Raymond Collishaw, the Canadian pilot for the Royal Naval Air Service He took town six German planes during World War I. Henry Woollett did the same, but also set two of the planes on fire with his airstrikes. ![albert ball top aces of wwi]() *Britain's first flying ace, Albert Ball in 1917; he was killed at 20 years old.* ### John Lightfoot Trollope Trollope took down seven German planes in March of 2018; he also hailed from the [Royal Air Force](). ### John Inglis Gilmour and Billy Bishop Two more Royal fighters to earn ace in a day in 1918. ### Frederick McCall A Canadian pilot that brought down five German planes in 1918, earning himself a Distinguished Service Order. ### Walter Carl Simon Simon was the first American to earn one-day ace and did so in 1918, he was followed shortly by Eugene Seely Coler. Additional one-day aces include: Heinrich Gontermann, a German pilot, Arthur Spurling, a Bermudian pilot, Frank Luke, an American, who was killed 11 days after his victory, and Friedrich Ritter who shot down five targets in just 15 minutes. And if you think that’s impressive, there are pilots who became double and triple aces in a single day, that’s 10 and 15 targets each. And those who earned one-day aces multiple times over. In any case, there is no denying their ability to hit their targets and fly swiftly to safety. Stay tuned for future flying ace lists. ## Author Bethaney Phillips has contributed to We Are the Mighty and MilSpouseFest since 2015, covering history and military family topics. She also served as the Interim Content and Digital Manager at MilSpouseFest in 2021. Now a veteran spouse, she spent six years in an active duty family and served as an SFRG leader. With a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing, she has more than 15 years of experience in digital and print writing, focusing on researched pieces and human interest stories. She is also a regular contributor to Business Insider, covering family and parenting topics. Her work has been included on Business Insider, Yahoo, Military.com, and Manhattan Magazine. While continuing to freelance, she works as the founding editor of the Clay County Regional, a print and digital newspaper delivered to more than 5,500 recipients. She also serves as the Digital Director/News Director for Taylor Communications out of north-central Kansas. Bethaney spends her free time chasing her two elementary-aged boys, raising chickens, and reading fiction. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [WWW]()