View Single Post
Old 3 May 2002, 12:30 AM   #120 (permalink)
sfabert
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Capt. Lewis:

David Baker's short 1990 bio of Bishop relates at page 10 that the meeting between Ball and Bishop occurred on May 5 during a visit by Ball to 60 Squadron. This portion of Baker's book appears to rely solely on Bishop's autobiographical account for its description of the meeting. I am aware of no other reference for the time and place of this meeting. I find no reference to a social visit by Ball on May 5 in Alex Revell's book on 56 Squadron, which recounts other events for that date, including a very intense aerial combat by Ball.

Baker's book is a useful source for the narrative text of Bishop's CITARs. A quick glance through them reveals a number of victories achieved with 50 bullets or less. So his marksmanship apparently was right up there with that of René Fonck, along with Bishop's other virtues.