Fonck, I don't know about, except to say that in addition to his 75 confirmed, he had another 50-52 unconfirmed. So I have to assume that there was something to the 75 claims that were confirmed.
As to Collishaw, I honestly don't know that much about him either. All I can say really about any of the aces is that their scores were confirmed. How much weight this carries, is in the eye of the beholder.
I've heard some who say they doubt MvR's score too, but my take on this is, he has 80 confirmed victories. End of story.
In all of these cases, unless someone can come up with something conclusive, such as the case of
Mick Mannock's score. This was thought to be 73 for decades. During that time very few publications every published anything to the contrary. Now the Grub street guys have more or less made it official, it least as official as it gets for something that really has no official status with any air force. As of
Above The Trenches, Mick Mannock's score is now seen by most people to be 61, and not 73.
By the same token, they have not come up with anything to dispute Bishop's score of 72 confirmed. Neither have they disputed Fonck's 75.
Some other scores widely held to be different have changed as well.
Lanoe Hawker, MvR's 11th victim was long thought to have a score of 9 victories. This has now be placed properly at 7.
Elliot White Springs was long credited in published lists with 12 victories. This has now been corrected to 16. The pendulum swings both ways.
It is your right to disagree, but for now the "Official" records are on my side.
If you discount the "official" records on Bishop, then you throw doubt on ALL official records by association.
Is my approach simple?? Yes, but with ever dwindling evidence there's really little else to do.
VBR,
Al Lowe
2-bit amateur aviation historian and/or enthusiast