Missiles vs Guns
Only recently has the air war become 'blind' and electronic. But for most of the past century, Richtofen's mentor Boelcke, and his Rules of Success in Air Combat were germane. Aerial gunfighter pilots have been compared to Napoleonic Wars' Cavalrymen, who personified the concepts of honor and chivalry. Their motivation was love of fighting, sport, and hunting. They were "admonished to ride well, die unflinchingly, and acknowledge courageous opponents. So too, are [were] fighting airmen. "
(Gibbons, "The Red Knight of Germany…") Missiles however, have no such thoughts , virtues, or history.
Missiles are distant and impersonal; guns are up close and very personal. Electrons guide missiles; but sweat, guts, guile and muscle guide guns. Missile guidance systems care nothing for friend or foe; gunfighters easily differentiate, yet can and do appreciate a worthy opponent. (unguided missiles are uncommon;unguided fighter pilots are the norm.
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Technology and progress - while certainly desirable, necessary, and inevitable - have mostly ended a long and fascinating chapter of aerial warfare.
At least he was cool about it and made right.
