Well Ginger, that's not really on the fence. You're actually sitting just inside it, on the opposite side from me.
That is pretty much Ben Greenhous' stance. One of the reasons he refers to Bishop as "Brave flyer, Bold Liar." Which WAS going to be the name of his current book, at one time.
See I still can't work out all these other fellows who have come forward and told what they have. And in at least one case, Townsend told his story BEFORE the proverbial horse manure hit the oscillating wind machine.
LONG before there was a controversy, people have told how Bishop's VC flight was confirmed. Quentin Reynolds, Arch Whitehouse, George Drew. Even if you dis these guys as NOT being historians, you have to listen to what they said with a little bit of wonder.
Then, add to that, the words of Phil Townsend, George Stirret and Otto Roosen. If you ask me, the testimony is a bit over whelmiing.
Yeah, I know, neither Drew, Reynolds, nor Whitehouse bothered to mention their sources. Back then, hardly ANYONE did. I don't think anyone back then thought their writing would undergo the scrutiny it has today. By contrast, in Knights of the Air, David Bashow has 156 footnotes for Chapter 4 alone.
In the end, Ginger, you are entitled to your opinion. If you consider Bishop a "brave flyer and a bold liar," then good for you.
I just happen to disagree.
VBR,
Al Lowe