This article first appeared in the summer of 1996 in the print edition of the Indy Squadron Dispatch, Volume 8, Number 7. The data used as the basis for this study came from the 1996 Ace and Experienced Pilot Roster, and therefore, will be fairly accurate until a major change in the rules is introduced that might render obsolete any old data.

A study of Dawn Patrol aircraft has been completed exclusively for the Indy Squadron Dispatch, and the results are in stark contrast to many traditional beliefs about fighters. Based on the 1996 Ace and Experienced Pilot Roster, this study is intended to scientifically determine which Dawn Patrol aircraft or aircraft group has the best kill-per-mission ratio in combat. Results were obtained by totaling the mission/kill records of all pilots who were at or below the 24 mission/10 kill level, and dividing the kill sum by the mission sum to get a baseball style "batting average," or, KPM ratio for that aircraft or aircraft group.

The study was intended to reflect the plane's ability in the hands of an average or slightly above average pilot, one that might be frequently seen in action on a typical FITS table. Therefore, 2^nd level aces (24/10) and higher were not included. It was also felt that the KPM ratio of the higher level aces would skew the study results, given their significant advantages in combat. On the other hand, using low level aces means that while a portion of their career was served as an ace, the great majority of their service was as a 3^rd-12^th mission pilot, which further validates the study results.

1. The DrI has an enormous edge on the rest of the field, with nearly a .04 KPM lead over the nearest competitor. You could throw a blanket over numbers 2-5.
2. The much-vaunted Camel finished a distant 5^th, but take heart, Camel diehards... the historic fighter made 51 active aces, more than any other plane in FITS (1996). The 150 hp Bentley version would no doubt have fared much better on its own.
3. The US SPAD XIII is listed separately from the French, since its pilots also get a lot of time in the Nieuport 28. The fact that the US SPAD group scored slightly higher than its French counterpart bodes well for the overlooked Nieuport, which has no category of its own.
4. The Sopwith Pup and Triplane were the big surprises, placing ahead of a host of twin gun 1918 fighters with a healthy .254 KPM ratio. Far and away the best showing for any single gun plane, no doubt due to its huge performance advantage over the Albatros series, and the deck mounted Vickers instead of the overwing Lewis.
5. Its confirmed. The SE 5's gun arrangement really does stink.
6. No way to verify this, but we suspect that had the Pfalz DXII not been grouped with the slower Roland DVIb, its KPM ratio may have been several spots higher.
7. Why a 9^th place ranking for the Albatros DII/DIII, and a 12^th place ranking for the improved Albatros DV/DVa? Competition! The DV/DVa was obsolete when it was introduced; the DII/DIII fought on more equal terms against lesser foes. This is confirmed by the fact that the Pfalz DIII/DIIIa also placed lower than the DII/DIII, but higher than the DV/DVa. The Pfalz, though superior in performance to the DV, was also outclassed by Camels and SE's before it ever reached the front.
8. Two seaters, even when flown as fighters with no penalty on initiative rolls, are hopelessly inept, with a KPM ratio so low that they are incapable even of defending themselves effectively. There are only 3 active two seater aces in all of Dawn Patrol.