Ernst Udet, with 62 victories was Germany’s second-highest scoring air Ace of World War I and was the highest scoring Ace to survive the war. His commander the infamous Manfred von Richthofen was the only German pilot to beat his tally. Fascinated by aviation from an early age Udet paid for private flying lessons to enable him to be accepted into the German Army Air Service. He joined in April 1915 and, in 1916 he transferred to fighter command and became a skilled and aggressive fighter pilot. He moved quickly through the ranks to become commander of Jasta 37 and a triple Ace by November 1917. His success attracted great attention and he was invited to join the elite ‘Flying Circus’ commanded by the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen and later Herrmann Goering. Richthofen gave Udet his own Jasta to command and his reputation continued to grow until the end of the war by which time he had become a national hero. Estimated release date: July 2008
