7. Edward Mannock
Edward Mannock, nicknamed as Mick, was Britain’s highest scoring ace during World War I with an aerial victory toll of 73. Mannock belonged to the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force where he had the rank of Major. He managed an incredible 15 victories on his first combat tour which earned him his celebrity ace status.
Because of his implacable hatred of the Germans, he enjoyed burning them to death. However, he became phobic about burning to death himself in midair. His fear of combat initially had him shunned as an ineffective pilot causing him to withdraw from his squadron. As he spent time alone he improved and started getting victories. Edward later became the Officer Commander of Squadron 74. He was very famous for his brutality in the air with which he killed his foes. He would keep shooting at a particular crash to make sure that none was alive. His subordinates also boasted that he never lost a wing man and they all wanted to fly with him.
His combat phobias seemed to be premonitions of his demise as he died in an explosion in 1918. His name was commemorated in the Royal Flying Corps Memorial, and several tributes were made in his honor.