8. Ernst Udet
Ernst Udet fought on the German side during World War I, and he was one of the finest and youngest flying aces to survive it. He was always fascinated with flying and when he was too short to join the German army, he decided to try and become a pilot. He paid the $2,000 for flying lessons and then signed up as a pilot during the war in 1915. His skill and aggressive style allowed him to rise through the ranks and make a name for himself.
He had 62 victories to his account under the command of Manfred Richthofen. After the war, he spent the 1920s and 1930s as a stunt pilot, barnstormer, and a great ladies’ man. Later in 1933, he joined the Nazi Party and soon became the Director-General of Equipment for the Luftwaffe in 1939 due to his efficient skills in networking. However, he became increasingly dependent on alcohol, largely due to the stress of the position and his distaste for administrative duties.
Ernst used his talent in dive-bombing and performed mock dogfights using surplus aircraft. He was also invited to start the first international airline between Germany and Austria. The Junker JU 87 designed by Ernst, also known as the “Stuka,” was used during the 1936 Summer Olympics for acrobatic shows. But Ernst didn’t have a happy ending and is known to have committed suicide while on an airplane with his girlfriend. The reason behind this act was concluded to be his unhappy relationship with the Nazi party and other associates.