Simviation Forums

 Awhile back the question was asked on this forum, "What was the most victories (by a pilot) in one sortie?".  And although the prize goes to the number 13, by German pilot Erich Rudorffer who downed 13 Russian aircraft in 17 minutes, the number 7 seems to come up alot.

 For instance, a month earlier Rudorffer managed to down 7 Russian aircraft in just 7 minutes!

 During the Battle of Santa Cruz, on October 26th, 1942, U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa downed 7 Japanese Naval aircraft (2 D3A "Vals" and 5 B5N "Kates") while flying top cover over Task Force 61 in a F4F-4.

 Major Bill Leverette downed 7 Ju-87s over the Isle of Rhodes while flying a P-38G on October 9th, 1943.

 And Capt. William Shomo downed 7 Japanese aircraft (1 G4M "Betty" and 6 Ki-61 "Tonys") over the island of Luzon on January 11th, 1945 while flying a F-6D (photo-recon version of the P-51D).

 Certainly the number 7, while lucky for these pilots, was not so for their enemies!!

Interesting. But that doesn't tell of you of all the sixes, eights etc too.

Interesting. But that doesn't tell of you of all the sixes, eights etc too.

 That's my point, in my readings I not running across the sixes or eights (not that they didn't happen).  Five victories in one sortie (ace in a day), although a remarkable feat, happened enought times to spawn two books (one of which I have), but a score above that seems to be a rare occurance.  I just find it odd that so many sevens should show up.