I just finished reading "Winged Warfare" by
Billy Bishop. I found his book interesting but it is anecdotal, without a great deal of historical fact.
He expresses great joy in killing and seemed to be a true hunter, in the same mold as MvR. On page 92, he describes chasing a two seater that dived away and landed in a field to escape him. This filled him with rage and he dived down on the pilot and observer, strafing them with bullets. He stated, "I had the satisfaction of knowing that the pilot and observer must have been hit, or nearly scared to death, for, although I hovered about for quite a long time, neither of them stepped from the silent machine."
I think this is rather harsh, but I am a product of my times. It seems like it was perfectly normal for him, given the way he described the experience. Does his statement describe the squadron view or only his own? He doesn't address that point.
Phil