Of course it is risky to speculate on What Ifs? Even for our own lives! There are so many different scenarios, based on small details. But what if Albert had survived?
If he had gone home in May 1917, he would have been out of action for several months, test flying his Austin Ball ( 8)gleefully I am sure) and wanting to get back into action. He would have married Flora and this committment might have colored his desire to fight. He was heartily sick of the war - that is clear in his letters. Last of all, he would have been a competitor of his contemporary (and my other hero
)
Mick Mannock for highest scoring ace.
Had he survived past 1918, I feel he would have dropped as high scorer. Albert's style worked well for him in 1916 and even 17, but I don't think it would have kept working with the formation flying that became mandatory. And he might not have adapted. He really was a lone flier, not really much of a leader type either.
I think he would have tried to live a 'normal' life in the '20s, gone into some kind of engineering, maybe stayed with his father's business (which was his plan during the war). He had not finished school when he went to war, and being only 22 when the war ended, probably would have different goals within 10 years. He may have even faded into some kind of obscurity.
However, I believe he would have been back in the mix by 1939, probably in some training capacity role in the Second War, possibly involved in design, and maybe even a Squadron leader (who knows, his own son would probably have been a Spitfire pilot - awesome thought!).
Anyway, this is my take, all speculation --
Cheers,
Scarlett