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5 May 2002, 06:23 AM

Dear Al,
Thank you for the thoughtful reply; I'm more than willing to accept that Caldwell was being asked for factual support for a decoration/commendation. Sorry, but I did miss your obtuse reference to Fry... I plan to bring him up later, but for now, a pause, while I relate something about Barker's VC (which will at the very least show that I've read Ralph's book):

Barker, in my opinion, was a most reluctant VC recipient; the fact is, he considered his final dogfight as a failure on his part, or, at the very least, a serious lapse of his 'situational awareness'.

It's not a question of how many he actually shot down, or whether or not he took on 15 or 30 or the now mythic "60" -- it was a matter that he had allowed an HA get on and under his tail (while he was busy with the two-seater) and then severely wound him (shooting away his elbow)...

We may look upon his combat as a heroic event -- the Canadian newspapers certainly did (and some of their reporting may even have crept into the VC recommendation) -- the point being, Barker NEVER did; there may even have been an element of disgust with himself (but now I'm giving my opinion)...

Returning to Bishop, a point of contention will always be the lack of witnesses; I wasn't aware that the VC had to have OFFICERS as said witnesses. It reminds me of the French's confirmation system -- wasn't an officer (or two?!?) required to witness a combat for verification? (Hmmm, what happens if you're a Sous-Lieutenant leading a flight of Sergeant-Pilotes, well behind Hun lines? You confirm their victories, but they can't confirm yours?)...

Obviosly, Al, the only way this controversy will ever be settled is for you and whomever to meet at the Winnipeg conference and duke it out with boxing gloves behind one of the hangars (I wouldn't be surprised if one of the hangars was already relegated for this purpose). I'd be more than happy to engage in said fisticuffs, but ONLY if Halliday would be the referee...

VBR,
Capt. "Battler" Lewis

(Reminds me of the Python sketch, wherein "God exists, two falls out of three.")

5 May 2002, 06:23 AM	#140 (permalink)
CaptainLewis Guest Posts: n/a	Dear Al, Thank you for the thoughtful reply; I'm more than willing to accept that Caldwell was being asked for factual support for a decoration/commendation. Sorry, but I did miss your obtuse reference to Fry... I plan to bring him up later, but for now, a pause, while I relate something about Barker's VC (which will at the very least show that I've read Ralph's book): Barker, in my opinion, was a most reluctant VC recipient; the fact is, he considered his final dogfight as a failure on his part, or, at the very least, a serious lapse of his 'situational awareness'. It's not a question of how many he actually shot down, or whether or not he took on 15 or 30 or the now mythic "60" -- it was a matter that he had allowed an HA get on and under his tail (while he was busy with the two-seater) and then severely wound him (shooting away his elbow)... We may look upon his combat as a heroic event -- the Canadian newspapers certainly did (and some of their reporting may even have crept into the VC recommendation) -- the point being, Barker NEVER did; there may even have been an element of disgust with himself (but now I'm giving my opinion)... Returning to Bishop, a point of contention will always be the lack of witnesses; I wasn't aware that the VC had to have OFFICERS as said witnesses. It reminds me of the French's confirmation system -- wasn't an officer (or two?!?) required to witness a combat for verification? (Hmmm, what happens if you're a Sous-Lieutenant leading a flight of Sergeant-Pilotes, well behind Hun lines? You confirm their victories, but they can't confirm yours?)... Obviosly, Al, the only way this controversy will ever be settled is for you and whomever to meet at the Winnipeg conference and duke it out with boxing gloves behind one of the hangars (I wouldn't be surprised if one of the hangars was already relegated for this purpose). I'd be more than happy to engage in said fisticuffs, but ONLY if Halliday would be the referee... VBR, Capt. "Battler" Lewis (Reminds me of the Python sketch, wherein "God exists, two falls out of three.")