Question of the day

[BennyD]

IIRC, it was Corporal of Horse Craig Harrison at approx 1.5 miles using an Accuracy International 'long' with Lapua .338 magnum ammunition. He took out a Taliban machine gun team that was assaulting his unit. He 'walked' the shots in and when he hit the gunner with his third shot, the gunners number two took over and he hit him first time using the same aim. The previous longest shot was a by a Canadian using a Barrett 'light 50' in Afghanistan.

 

[CliveP1]

correct Benny. amazing accuracy.

 

[midlifecrisis]

Like the sniper...lol

 

[BennyD]

It was my kind of question as I've done quite a bit of reading about snipers such as Billy Sing (WW1), Vasili Zaytsev (WW11) and Carlos Hathcock (Vietnam). It's a bit of a 'dark art' and a death sentence if caught so it marks them out as an elite and the training is arduous to say the least. Sniper One by Dan Mills (Afghanistan) is a good read for around the pool on holiday as it gives an insight into what they really do. Btw, the Canadian fella used a MacMillan Tac 50 not a Barett light 50 although the bit that comes out of the end is exactly the same and does exactly the same damage.

 

[BennyD]

Who was the highest scoring fighter 'Ace' of WW2?

 

[conaero]

Allies and the enemy included in this?

 

[BennyD]

Yes. The highest scoring Ace ever.

 

[conaero]

Who was the chap we learned about at school, the Germans shot his legs off and he still went up again, Barder or something wasn't it?

Thats my guess (as its the only one i know)

Ah yes, Douglas Barder, see I did listen in class Mr Green!

 

[BennyD]

You mean Douglas Bader. Sorry mate, he wasn't even the highest scoring British ace. Anyway, you didn't listen that well because he lost his legs when he crashed a Bulldog bi-plane while illegally low flying!

 

[GeoffCapes]

I'm pretty sure it was a German, and his name was...........

I'll have to get back to you on that one. I read a book on him.

BTW. Sniper One is a great read.

 

[BennyD]

Right so far. Of 107 aces who scored 100 kills or more, all 107 of them were German.

 

[Guest 1678]

Adolf Galland?

 

[BennyD]

A good shout as he was one of the 107 (104 'kills') but a long way off top spot. He was one of the first jet aces with 7 'kills' in the ME 262. He was also a good post war friend of British aces Douglas Bader and Bob Stanford-Tuck.

 

[Guest 1678]

he always had a cigar on the go - proper chap. I am now having to hit the memory banks. I have a weird feeling the top ace had over 300 kills - many in Russia.

 

[drewf]

This is annoying me, as I *know* the answer, but can't remember the chap's surname.

It's Erich B........... but that's as far as I can recall it. Pretty sure his tally was 352. Still can't remember his name.

 

[BennyD]

I'm almost impressed Drew, if you keep pounding those grey cells I'm sure you will get it in the end. So far so very good, apart from the initial of the surname. However, his nickname does begin with B.

 

[drewf]

I'm almost impressed Drew, if you keep pounding those grey cells I'm sure you will get it in the end. So far so very good, apart from the initial of the surname. However, his nickname does begin with B.

'Almost impressed' - Mighty praise indeed!

Bubi. The Blond Knight. But I still can't get his surname.

 

[BennyD]

Getting there!

 

[GeoffCapes]

This is annoying me, as I *know* the answer, but can't remember the chap's surname.

It's Erich B........... but that's as far as I can recall it. Pretty sure his tally was 352. Still can't remember his name.

That's the fella, I always thought of the Incredible Hulk when I read his name as the Hulk was David Banner.
Erich Bauner?

 

[BennyD]

No.