Dear Albert,
*I've read Libby's book twice, and I'm not aware of any "myth" of his shooting down 20+ in the text (although it probably appears on the dustjacket; hmmm... a new source to settle our controversies?). Further, if you should read the book, and I do recommend it (as it is a damn good read), and do an accounting of his victories, Libby only makes claim for 13 - thirteen - and not fourteen. It is possible that he does mention that he may have had other, 'unconfirmed' or, for that matter, DD and DDOOC; I honestly don't remember. But what is worth noting, NOWHERE is his memoir does Libby write, "and yes, I shot down this or that many, for a total of whatever". This is what stood out in reading his book - he's telling a story, not giving an accounting; and while recounting his victories, I thought it unusual and noteworthy that Libby would not mention his score...
*As for Libby's "Bishop" account, you are quite right, it IS an exaggeration: if I remember correctly, Libby gives the final 'kill' tally at 8 (yes, EIGHT !). I would like to point out - and rather smugly, I might add - that it was EYE who first posted Libby's account on The Forum (from March of 2001, "Captain Libby Chimes In"). And, understandably, you did dismiss this account as inaccurate and the result of recalling memories forty years after the fact; and, for whatever it's worth, I agree with you.
*However, at the time of my posting, there was a Libby website, "Horsesdontfly.com" (please don't ask me where they came up with that title), run by Libby's granddaughter (who also edited the book); sadly, I believe that this site is no longer available. In email correspondance with her, she did not confirm or deny that Libby's "Bishop" account was actually about Bishop. But she did tell me this, that her grandfather had disdain for only one WW1 aviator, and that was Bishop; which proves NOTHING in settling any controversy surrounding him...
*On another topic, concerning aircraft identification - if anyone thinks that this would be a good way to disprove Bishop's veracity, I'm afraid that they have another thing coming.
LvR, if you read his combat reports, was not very good at aircraft i.d. (perhaps because he was never an observer?). His fortieth confirmed victory was against a Camel; he identified it as a Dolphin. Now THERE'S a stretch! But it doesn't make him a liar; for that matter, LvR was shot down by a Camel, but he was unable to make any i.d. as to the aircraft type of his victor (perfectly understandable, under the circumstances). Further, if you read the NdL, specifically for May of 1917 (when LvR was credited with downing Ball), you'll discover that aircraft MIS-identification was rife...
*I want to thank Halliday for the information of the debate and for keeping this particular thread on-track. If you read the links that he cites, I think that you'll come to the conclusion that we Forumites know a great deal more than most concerning the controversy...
Truth will out;
VBR,
Captain Lewis