When we talk about “10 flying aces,” the usual suspects are the big‑name nations—Germany, the United States, the Soviet Union. But a handful of daring pilots from smaller, often overlooked countries also earned the coveted ace status by downing five or more enemy aircraft. Below, we rank ten of these remarkable flyers, each hailing from a nation that rarely makes the headline‑grabbing ace lists.
10 Mato Dukovac: Croatia
When Croatia declared independence in 1941, it quickly assembled an air force to aid the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. Mato Dukovac was among the inaugural batch of Croatian pilots trained by the Germans, and they were dispatched to the Eastern Front almost immediately after completing their training. On Dukovac’s twelfth sortie he managed to down a Soviet I‑16 fighter. A few days later, however, his squadron was pulled back to Croatia for a transfer.
German command soon found itself short of pilots on the Soviet front and ordered Dukovac’s unit back into action. With the additional combat exposure, Dukovac rapidly amassed an impressive tally of Soviet kills. After a second and third tour of duty he rose to squadron leader. By 1944, the crumbling German logistics forced another front‑line deployment, but this time his unit received no aircraft. Enraged, Dukovac defected to the Soviet Union, where he was assigned to train Yugoslav pilots. Growing increasingly dissatisfied, he later stole an aircraft, fled to Italy, and spent the remainder of the war in a refugee camp.
Post‑war, Dukovac developed strong anti‑Israeli sentiments and volunteered to fly for Arab forces during the 1948 Arab‑Israeli War, piloting aging T‑6 Texan bombers. He later emigrated to Canada, entered the business world, and passed away in 1990. His wartime record stands at 44 confirmed kills, making him the highest‑scoring Croatian ace of World War II.
9 Andres Garcia La Calle: Spain
The Spanish Civil War served as a proving ground for many nations before the outbreak of World War II. Both sides fielded air forces, and the Republican side initially operated outdated aircraft before receiving more advanced Soviet planes. During these early stages, Andres Garcia La Calle emerged as one of the top fighter pilots, scoring his first victories in antiquated biplanes.
In 1936 La Calle was appointed commander of a 25‑plane fighter squadron that uniquely included a contingent of U.S. mercenary pilots who had joined the Republic to fight fascism. Renowned for his prudent leadership, La Calle avoided needless risks, making service under his command highly coveted.
Following heroic actions at the Battle of Jarama, La Calle was promoted to oversee all Republican fighter units and traveled to the Soviet Union for additional training. Despite his effectiveness, the Nationalist air force vastly outnumbered his forces, and a shortage of seasoned pilots limited his impact. After the Republic’s defeat, La Calle fled to France and later to Mexico, where he lived out his remaining years. He logged 11 confirmed kills during his wartime career.
8 Leonard Allan Payne: Swaziland
Leonard Allan Payne descended from British settlers in Swaziland. In 1917 he enlisted in the Royal Air Force and was sent to the Western Front during the First World War. He piloted a Bristol F.2 Fighter—a two‑seat reconnaissance aircraft that proved surprisingly effective as a combat platform. After a slow start, Payne distinguished himself as one of the RAF’s premier F.2 pilots, ultimately achieving 11 kills in his aircraft.
Payne earned the Military Cross for an audacious sortie near the war’s end. Tasked with a deep‑penetration reconnaissance mission, he flew a mere 60 metres (200 ft) above the ground, 14 kilometres (9 mi) behind enemy lines. During this daring flight he shot down three enemy fighters, strafed ground troops, and returned to base with his aircraft riddled with bullet holes. Tragically, Payne perished in a flying accident in 1919. He remains Swaziland’s all‑time top‑scoring ace.
7 Alexander De Seversky: Georgia
Alexander de Seversky was born in Georgia while it was still part of the Russian Empire. His father introduced him to aviation, and when World War I erupted, de Seversky joined the navy and soon began training as a naval aviator. On his inaugural mission he attacked a German destroyer but was shot down by anti‑aircraft fire, sustaining a leg injury that led to amputation.
Undeterred, within a year he returned to combat, becoming a skilled fighter pilot who amassed 13 kills—making him one of Russia’s top aviators and the premier Russian naval ace, all while flying with an artificial limb. After the war he stayed in the aviation industry, championing strategic air power. Emigrating to the United States, he patented a groundbreaking bomb‑sight for the Air Force, using the proceeds to launch his own aircraft manufacturing firm.
His company designed the all‑metal P‑35 monoplane in the lead‑up to World War II. However, board members ousted him, and the firm reorganized as Republic Aviation, later producing the iconic P‑47 Thunderbolt—derived from de Seversky’s P‑35 design. Throughout WWII, the P‑47 proved vital to the Allied effort. Despite his removal, de Seversky remained an outspoken advocate for strategic air power and helped shape the United States Strategic Air Command.
6 Clive Brewster‑Joske: Fiji
Clive Brewster‑Joske was born in Fiji before World War I, when the islands were still a British colony. Though his family originated from Australia, he spent his entire life in Fiji. He entered military service at the outset of the war, initially serving in the infantry before transitioning to aviation after a stint as an observer gunner on reconnaissance aircraft. Once assigned a Sopwith Pup fighter, Brewster‑Joske quickly logged six kills, raising his total to eight.
Following the war, Brewster‑Joske emerged as a prominent Fijian figure, acting as a consultant to various governments worldwide. He recognized the strategic importance of civil aviation, championing governmental investment in the sector. Throughout the interwar years he continued his military career, eventually serving with the Australian Air Corps during World War II. His influence cemented him as Fiji’s most notable and impactful aviator.
5 Constantin Cantacuzino: Romania
Constantin Cantacuzino earned the moniker “the prince of aces,” tracing his lineage to a noble medieval Romanian family. From an early age he adored airplanes, later mastering ice hockey before turning to flight, where he proved a natural talent. In 1939 he won Romania’s national aerobatics contest and became chief pilot for the air‑transport company LARES.
When World War II erupted, Cantacuzino joined the Romanian Air Force and began engaging Soviet forces. He swiftly rose among Romania’s elite pilots. In one notable mission, he and his wingman confronted ten enemy fighters while escorting Romanian bombers. After his wingman was forced to withdraw, Cantacuzino single‑handedly held the line, downing two adversaries. Early in the conflict he also conducted unauthorized night raids against Soviet bombers, despite flying a Bf‑109 not equipped for nocturnal missions—an act that convinced German commanders of his apparent madness.
In 1944, Romania switched sides, and Cantacuzino started targeting the Luftwaffe. Allied commanders later tasked him with ferrying a newly liberated high‑ranking American POW from Romania to Foggia, Italy. After landing in Foggia, his aircraft could not be refueled, so he commandeered a U.S. Mustang and returned to Romania, dazzling onlookers with an impromptu aerobatic display. He survived the war with 43 confirmed kills.
4 Marmaduke ‘Pat’ Pattle: South Africa
Marmaduke “Pat” Pattle entered the Royal Air Force in 1936, at a time when South Africa remained part of the British Commonwealth. After completing training, he was posted to Egypt, where he was stationed when World War II broke out. His first combat experience came in Libya against Italian forces, flying the agile Gloster Gladiator biplane, which allowed him to notch his initial kills.
Following the Italian campaign, Pattle transferred to Greece, eventually becoming a squadron commander. In 1940 he was promoted to flight commander and remained in that role until his death. While serving in Greece, he engaged the Luftwaffe and rapidly accumulated a substantial kill count. Though respected for his skill, Pattle was not universally liked; he was notoriously strict, demanding proper grooming and attire from his pilots.
On 20 April 1941—Hitler’s birthday—Pattle claimed six victories early in the day despite suffering from influenza and a high fever. Defying orders, he continued to fly. During his third sortie, his formation encountered a group of German Bf‑110 heavy fighters; two enemy aircraft latched onto his tail, and his plane exploded under fire, crashing into the sea. At the time of his death he had 50 confirmed kills, making him the highest‑scoring British Commonwealth ace of the war and the top ace ever to fly the Gladiator and Hurricane.
3 Spiro ‘Steve’ Pisanos: Greece
Born in Athens, Spiro “Steve” Pisanos nurtured a passion for aviation from a young age. In 1938 he immigrated to the United States, hoping one day to become a pilot. When World War II erupted, he volunteered to serve with the Royal Air Force—since the United States had not yet entered the conflict. Although still a Greek citizen, Pisanos joined the American Number 71 Eagle Squadron, conducting low‑level attack raids against Germany.
After the United States entered the war, the Eagle Squadron was integrated into the U.S. Army Air Forces. As a goodwill gesture, the U.S. granted citizenship to the six foreign nationals serving in the unit, including Pisanos. He became a double ace, tallying ten kills after downing four enemy aircraft on 5 May 1944. However, on the return flight his engine failed due to faulty spark plugs, forcing an emergency crash‑landing in occupied France.
As his aircraft descended, Pisanos attempted to bail out by climbing onto the wing, but his harness snagged on the cockpit. He managed to free himself, re‑entered the cockpit, and tried again, only to be too late. The plane crashed, sending Pisanos airborne. Miraculously he survived, but German soldiers opened fire on the downed pilot. He evaded capture with the help of French Resistance members, who sheltered him until Paris was liberated. Pisanos remained in the Air Force until retirement, eventually flying supersonic jets. He is still alive today, sharing his extraordinary story.
2 Karel Kuttelwascher: Czechoslovakia
In 1934 Karel Kuttelwascher earned his wings with the Czechoslovak Air Force. When his homeland fell to the Germans, he escaped to Poland and subsequently to France, where he and other Czech pilots enlisted in the French Foreign Legion to continue the fight. As France collapsed, Kuttelwascher fled across the Channel to England and joined the Royal Air Force.
By 1942 his squadron was assigned a novel mission type called “night intrusion,” involving single‑aircraft attacks on German bombers over their own airfields. These missions were perilously demanding, requiring exceptional eyesight and navigation over hostile territory. Kuttelwascher flew a Hurricane lacking radar, quickly proving himself an outstanding night‑intrusion pilot; his aircraft earned the nickname “Night Reaper.”
Later that year his unit received de Havilland Mosquito fighters, but he did not record any kills with the new type. In October 1942 he transferred away from frontline duty and spent the remainder of the war in a maintenance squadron. He finished the conflict with 18 kills, making him the premier RAF night‑intrusion pilot, the top Czech fighter ace, and the sixth‑best British night‑fighter pilot—an impressive feat given his aircraft’s lack of radar.
1 Ilmari Juutilainen: Finland
Most people are unaware of the Finnish fighter aces who battled the Soviet Union during the Continuation War (1941‑1944). These pilots flew outdated, under‑armed fighters yet became a nightmare for Soviet airmen. The most celebrated among them was Ilmari Juutilainen, Finland’s all‑time top‑scoring ace.
Juutilainen claimed his first victories on a Fokker D.XXI during the earlier Winter War of 1939. Throughout the Continuation War Finnish pilots primarily flew the Brewster Buffalo—an aircraft dismissed by major air forces as ineffective. Nonetheless, Finnish crews mastered the bulky fighter, and Juutilainen built an impressive kill record, sometimes downing as many as six enemy planes in a single sortie. A tactical genius, he avoided needless risks; on one occasion he considered attacking a surfaced Soviet submarine but wisely withdrew when he judged the odds unfavorable.
Later in the war his squadron received modern German Bf‑109 fighters, with which he achieved the majority of his kills, though he is best remembered for his exploits in the Buffalo. Throughout his career Juutilainen refused a commission, fearing it would remove him from the cockpit. When hostilities ceased, he logged 94 confirmed kills—though he claimed 120—and his aircraft never sustained a hit from enemy fire.
For more captivating stories from a physics student turned writer, visit Zachery Brasier’s blog at zacherybrasier.com.