The following are lists of World War I flying aces. Historically, a flying ace was defined as a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The term was first used by French newspapers, describing Adolphe Pégoud as l'as, after he downed seven German aircraft.
Vizefeldwebel Richard Paul Rothe was a German World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.
Leutnant Hans Imelmann was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. As a founding member of one of Germany's original fighter squadrons, he was shot down and killed before he reached his twentieth birthday.
Leutnant Fritz Gerhard Anders was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. He was the world's first night fighter ace.
Offizierstellvertreter Reinhold Jörke was a World War I flying ace credited with 14 confirmed aerial victories.
LeutnantFranz Piechulek was a German World War I flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories.
Leutnant Georg Schlenker was a World War I flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories.
Leutnant Rudolf Wendelmuth was a World War I German flying ace credited with 14 aerial victories.
Leutnant Dieter Collin IC was a World War I German flying ace credited with 13 aerial victories.
Leutnant Heinrich Georg Geigl HOH, IC was a World War I German flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. His midair collision with a Sopwith Camel killed him; however, the Camel was confirmed as Geigl's 13th victory.
Leutnant Joachim von Busse was a World War I flying ace credited with eleven aerial victories.
Leutnant Walter Höhndorf (1892-1917) was a pioneer aviator, test pilot, airplane designer and constructor, and fighter ace during World War I. He was credited with twelve aerial victories while flying for the Imperial German Air Service. Only one of his victories was achieved with a fighter squadron; the rest were scored while he flew for artillery direction and reconnaissance units.
Oberleutnant Franz Schleiff was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories. Nine additional combat claims went uncredited.
Vizefeldwebel Friedrich Manschott was a German World War I flying ace credited with 12 aerial victories.
Otto Brauneck was a German World War I flying ace credited with ten confirmed and five unconfirmed aerial victories. Originally assigned to fly on the Macedonian Front to support Germany's ally, the Ottoman Empire, between September 1916 and April 1917 Brauneck shot down four enemy observation balloons and three aircraft, with a further five claims going unproven. Transferred to the Red Baron's Jagdstaffel 11 in France, Brauneck scored a further three victories before being killed in action on 26 July 1917.
Leutnant Franz Brandt was a German World War I flying ace credited with ten confirmed aerial victories, as well as three unconfirmed claims.
OffizierstellvertreterFritz Gustav August Kosmahl HOH, IC was one of the first flying aces of Germany's Luftstreitkräfte during World War I. He was one of the few German two-seater aces of the war, being officially credited with nine aerial victories. He was also one of the first ten German aviators to earn the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.
