Definition:
An ace is a pilot who is credited with five or more aerial victories. First coming to prominence during the early days of aerial combat in World War I, the number of kills required to be an ace initially varied by country. Use of the term by military aviators began after a French newspaper described Adolphe Pegoud as l'as (the ace) after he downed his fifth German aircraft.
Examples:
- Manfred von Richthofen was the top ace of World War I with 80 kills.
- Erich Hartmann was the top ace of World War II with 352 kills.
