The only Foreign member...

[Billy_Bishop]

Did any of you know that Billy Bishop was the only foreign member of the German Aces Association?? He was in Berlin in 1928, and while there visited the grave site of MvR. An alert gate-keeper recognized the name when he signed in, and informed someone at the GAA, who tracked him down and invited him to a meeting. He was inducted that night.

As far as anyone knows, he was the ONLY foreign pilot ever invited into the organization.

Just a little food for thought.

Al Lowe 'Honourary Canuck'
"USA Today has come out with a new survey: Apparently three
out of four people make up 75 percent of the population."
--David Letterman

I saw a photograph taken for the occasion. Bishop is sitting next to Goering like an old chum. Udet is in the photo, too. I wonder if any of the Germans knew anybody that Bishop shot down, or vice versa.

I'll beat the punch and point out that few of Bishop's victories have names attached to it.

RK

The photo from 1928 is a classic. They look like school chums back for a reunion.

And yes Al, like I told you, Bishop was the only foreigner to be a member of the German Ace Association...unless someone has evidence to the contrary.

Steven E. Dieter BA BA(Hons)
Former Historian
Billy Bishop Heritage & Museum
Owen Sound, Ontario

[Barrett]

Al, et al (or is that "et Al"?)

I've never heard of the German Aces Association, and rather doubt there was such a group because Germany never adopted the specific "ace concept" of 5 victories. I wonder if this wasn't the fore-runner of the current German Fighter Pilots' Association, which now includes anyone who was ever affiliated with GAF fighter aviation.

There are other such groups that accept or acknowledge "outsiders." The American Fighter Aces Assn has hosted Australians and Canadians, and had at least one foreign-born member in the late Witold Urbanowicz, who briefly flew with the 14th Air Force. AFAA also hosted members of the Zero Fighter Pilots Assn (which in turn is fragmented between officers and noncommissioned pilots), and in the 1980s there were frequent exchanges between the Germans and former enemies such as RAF types.

If I were a really obnoxious cybersniper atop the proverbial on-line grassy knoll, I'd ask if Billy Bishop put in for a gong after his "raid" on the baron's grave--but I won't. Honest!

Berret the germans never adopted the 5 kills you're an ace system
because their standard was 10 kills
"Beware the Hun in the sun" RFC "Unoffical" motto

[Richard_Schrader]

Maybe Bishop told the Germans he made a early morning raid on a French Aerodrome and shot down 5 Spad 7's.

[Richard_Schrader]

Phill;
Sorry, I meant 10 Spads.
Richard

[Billy_Bishop]

Richard:
No, but he did tell them he should be the highest ranking German ace, as he put more RFC/RAF aircraft out of action by his landing technique then they had shot down all together.

Regards,

Al Lowe

"I've been doing the Fonda workout: the Peter Fonda workout.
That's where I wake up, take a hit of acid, smoke a joint,
and go to my sister's house and ask her for money."
--Kevin Meaney

[Billy_Bishop]

Barret:
Most likely the "German Aces Assoc." is an Anglicized version of what ever it's actual name is. Unfortunately, I don't have the source book the reference came from, so I'm not sure if the actual German name is mentioned. But I would hazard a guess that it was likely something more like "German Fighter Pilots' Association". What I do know, from reliable sources is that for the time inbetween WWI and WWII, Billy Bishop was the ONLY foreign member ever recruited into the association.

Best Regards,

Al Lowe 'Honourary Canuck'
"Variety may be the Spice of life,
But I'm diabetic, and that spice is sugar."
--Al Lowe

thank you for your recent help in pointing me in the right direction on ' mick mannock'

screenplay is progressing

regards

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