[Alan]

Originally posted by Ginger.@Jul 2 2004, 10:35 AM
[b]Well I do give a damn, because the bloke fiddled a VC.
That his name is mentioned in the same company of men like Albert Ball and Mick Mannock is a travesty and insult to the Victoria Cross and all of it's noble recipitents.

I cannot agree any more strongly!


The fact that it is still hotly debated almost 90 years later should, in its root form, already cause one to take pause in the veracity of Bishop's claims.

Especially when one considers not one other great Hero of the RFC/RAF has these same issues.

I guess my point is thus: If it seemed that this was a common thing with all the British pilots and their claims, it would be easier to deduce that Bishop was the norm, and therefore credibility for the uncorroborated claims would be accepted. But since this is an aberration of the norm and we don't see this with claims from the likes of Mannock and Ball, and together with reticence by his own peers (that of Bishop) and that of researchers up to today, then regardless of hearsay, theresay, and thatsay, Bishop's claims have to be held somewhat suspect.

And, IIRC, we don't see it to this much degree with any of the other air services with the possible exception of the French and Fonck.