5 Renowned World War II Aces Who Vanished on Their Last Flight

World War II was filled with daring and skilled pilots who faced incredible danger every time they took to the skies. Many of these aces, known for their skill in aerial combat, never returned from their final missions. In some cases, their disappearances remain a mystery to this day, with little to no information about their fates.

1. Wolfgang Schellmann (Germany)

Wolfgang Schellmann was one of Germany’s early fighter aces, with a career that began before World War II in the Spanish Civil War. During that conflict, Schellmann downed 12 enemy aircraft, establishing himself as one of Germany’s top pilots even before the larger conflict began. His reputation grew during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, where he claimed several more victories flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109. By the time he was deployed to the Eastern Front, his tally had reached 24 kills.

On the first day of Operation Barbarossa in 1941, Schellmann took part in a combat mission over Belarus. During the mission, he achieved his 25th kill but was then struck by an enemy aircraft in a ramming attack. Forced to bail out over Soviet-controlled territory, Schellmann parachuted safely to the ground, but he was never seen again. Some historians speculate that he may have been captured and executed by Soviet forces, but no definitive evidence has ever surfaced. His fate remains one of the many unsolved mysteries of the war.

2. Boyd “Buzz” Wagner (United States)

Boyd Wagner was the first American ace of World War II, earning his title in the early days of the Pacific conflict. Stationed in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Wagner found himself quickly thrust into action. On December 12, less than a week after the U.S. entered the war, Wagner took part in a reconnaissance mission in his P-40 Warhawk. Engaged by Japanese fighters, he used his skill to evade and shoot down several enemy planes, claiming four kills that day. Five days later, he achieved his fifth kill, becoming the first American ace of the war.

Wagner’s success made him a valuable asset, and he was recalled to the United States to help train new fighter pilots. In November 1942, while on a routine flight over Florida, Wagner’s P-40 disappeared. Despite a large search effort, it wasn’t until six weeks later that his wreckage and remains were found. His body was located about 25 miles from the airfield where he had taken off, but the cause of the crash was never determined. Wagner’s legacy as a trailblazer in American aviation history remains strong, but his untimely death has left questions about what happened on that fateful day.

3. Heinz Schmidt (Germany)

Heinz Schmidt was a successful German fighter ace who served on the Eastern Front, where he tallied an impressive 172 aerial victories against Soviet aircraft. Despite his youth, Schmidt’s skills in combat were exceptional, and he quickly became one of Germany’s top aces. His missions took him across various battles on the Eastern Front, where he continued to score victories in the skies.

However, on September 5, 1943, during a mission near Kotelva in present-day Ukraine, Schmidt disappeared. He had already downed two Soviet aircraft that day, but later on, he was reported missing. Some theories suggest that he may have been shot down by friendly fire, possibly by Hungarian forces, though this has never been confirmed. Like many others who went missing during the war, Schmidt’s fate remains a mystery, with no definitive information about what happened after his final flight.

4. Max Stotz (Germany)

Max Stotz was another high-scoring ace of the German Luftwaffe, having achieved 182 confirmed kills by the time of his disappearance. An Austrian by birth, Stotz was a seasoned veteran of the war, particularly on the Eastern Front, where he fought against the Soviet Union. His reputation as an elite pilot grew steadily as he participated in numerous dogfights, contributing significantly to Germany’s air campaign.

In August 1943, Stotz was involved in a mission near Vitebsk, Belarus. After a fierce engagement with Soviet fighters, his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was heavily damaged. Forced to bail out, Stotz successfully ejected from his aircraft, and his wingmen reported seeing him parachuting to the ground. However, this was the last time anyone saw him. It is likely that Stotz landed behind enemy lines, where the Soviets were known to deal harshly with German airmen. There are no records of him being taken prisoner, and his fate remains unknown.

5. Eric “Sawn Off” Locke (United Kingdom)

Eric Locke was one of the United Kingdom’s most successful aces during the Battle of Britain. Despite his short stature, Locke earned the nickname “Sawn Off Lockie” and quickly proved that his size had no impact on his skills as a pilot. During the Battle of Britain, Locke shot down 21 enemy aircraft, making him the highest-scoring RAF pilot of that campaign.

In August 1941, Locke was on a mission to intercept German bombers over the English Channel. During this flight, his Supermarine Spitfire went missing. Despite an extensive search effort, no trace of Locke or his aircraft was ever found. It is believed that he was either shot down or that his plane encountered mechanical failure, but his disappearance remains one of the enduring mysteries of Britain’s wartime aviation history.