BB's Balloons

Ron_F · 16 June 2002, 12:50 PM

60 squadrons book doesnt list a single balloon for BB, let alone anyone else in the unit. so , at least 60 sqn. didnt count them officially....

Billy_Bishop · 16 June 2002, 05:21 PM

What makes it interesting is depending on the source, either Bishop had 70 aircraft and 2 balloons, or 72 aircraft and no balloons, OR 72 aircraft and 3 balloons.

Very, VERY interesting.

VBR,

Al

17 June 2002, 02:48 PM

I took a moment to look at various sources regarding Bishop's ballon tally.

In my copy of Winged Wafare (1990 reprint), it lists the enemy aircraft which Bishop downed. No mention is made of balloons.

On pages 52-53 of Canada's Fighting Airmen, George Drew writes

"The record of seventy-two machines, which no airmen then living has equalled, did not include a very large number which had been driven down but not seen to crash, and there can be no doubt that many of these were also destroyed. Nor did it include several observation balloons brought down in flames."

Arthur's list in The Courage of the Early Morning (1985 reprint) parallels that in the 1990 edition of Winged Warfare.

Dave Bashow, on page 118 of Knights of the Air cites page 207 of Dan McCaffery's work for his total of "seventy-two victories, including two obersavtion balloons."

Of course, McCaffery, on pages 211 to 218, cites 75 victories and 5 unconfirmed victories.