Bishop Received The VC, Why Didn't Pritt?

[Pips]

Billy Bishop received the Victoria Cross for his single-handed attack on a German aerodrome on 2 June, 1917.

On the 15the August, 1917, Lt. Walbanke Ashby Pritt performed a similar feat. He flew (Sopwith Pup) to Marcke aerodrome in the dark and dropped a bomb from 100ft in the middle of a group of machines. He then dropped another on a road, one into the machines again and the fourth onto the Herelbout siding which was full of troops. As he was doing this he noticed an Albatross scout taking off from Marcke, so he attacked it, causing it to crash into the houses at the north-east end of the Drome. Another scout attempted to get airborne, which Pritt attacked and caused it to crash on the aerodrome. Finally he attacked a machine gun post as he left the area to return home.

Now why wasn't Pritt also awarded the Victoria Cross?

[DEM]

Is there any German record of Pritt's feat? There is no enemy record of either Bishop or Jerrard's raids on German airfields.

[Gregvan]

Dear DEM and Cobby,
The late, eminent Canadian aviation historian Philip Markham did a very well-researched article on precisely this topic which was printed in OtF Vol. 10, No. 3. It was titled "Other Early Morning Aerodrome Attacks" and dealt most specifically with Lt. Walbanke Ashby Pritt (of No. 66 Sqn) and his attack on Marcke aerodrome on 16 August 1917. Pritt, incidentally, looked about 14 years of age at the time (the photos show this) and his fellow pilots in 66 called him "Warbaby", I believe - but he was actually 22.

The article notes that the RFC Communique No. 101 (19 August) states that on the 16th of August there was another solo attack, besides Pritt's: "No. 70 Squadron - Lieut. Crang flew to Bisseghem Aerodrome, where he saw seven hangars, so dropped two bombs from 100 feet, but just missed the hangars. He again flew over the aerodrome and fired into the hangars, but as there were no signs of life he left, and crossed the Courtrai-Ypres railway line, where he saw a train in a siding, at which he fired...He then turned south and saw an aerodrome (probably Rumbeke) with 5 hangars into which he fired from 20 feet."

As Phil pointed out, there is indeed German confirmation for Pritt's attack. The JG I wardiary published as "Jagd in Flanderns Himmel" (and in English as "Hunting with Richthofen", translated by Jan Hayzlett) confirms attacks on Marcke (Jastas 6 and 11) and Bisseghem (Jastas 4 and 10). I quote: "Enemy bombing attacks: 6:16 a.m., an enemy aircraft dropped 2 bombs between the railroad embankment and the quarters of Jasta 11 without causing damage. 6:30 a.m., an enemy aircraft dropped one bomb on the aerodrome of Jasta 4 damaging 1 hangar and two aircraft."

Phil notes that "...it is clear that attacks were made on both Marcke and Bisseghem aerodromes and that some damage was caused. The two attacks are recorded as being 15 minutes apart, but Pritt saw a fire a Bisseghem before he broke off. Perhaps Bodenschatz was in error in his report, and Crang was more successful than he thought."

Phil goes on to note that in the RFC Comminique No. 101, records no less than nine attacks on enemy airfields by single scout aircraft on 16 August 1917. I suggest you try to get ahold of this article and read the whole thing, which is much more detailed.

Pritt was awarded the MC for his gallant solo attack on the aerodromes of Germany's premier fighter Group on 16 August.Why didn't he get the VC? Well, I'm sure the answer is a lot more intricate and political than I can get into here. However, by August 1917, it's clear that solo attacks on airfields were not uncommon.

Greg

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Cobby

Now why wasn't Pritt also awarded the Victoria Cross?

Because he wasn't the first. The first bloke who downed a Zeppelin copped a VC, the next an MC. Thereafter it became commonplace. No awards.

[MikeW]

Because he wasn't the first. The first bloke who downed a Zeppelin copped a VC, the next an MC.

Now, there I'd have to disagree with you Vin.

Who was the first bloke to down a Zeppelin? No it wasn't Leefe Robinson VC, it was in fact Rex Warneford VC of the RNAS.

Of course, Robinson did get the first one on home soil, but I suspect that if it had been the other way round, and Robinson got the first Zep, then Warneford wouldn't have got a look in!


Mike

["Junior"]

There's another less well known example of a pilot singlehandedly attacking a German airfield which I brought up this year:

2Lt. MacGregor strafing of aerodrome

If this did indeed happen it's an act of bravery for which another certain bloke got the top gong...

[Vin]

Originally Posted by MikeW

Who was the first bloke to down a Zeppelin? No it wasn't Leefe Robinson VC, it was in fact Rex Warneford VC of the RNAS.

Mike

Who was the first bloke to shoot down a Zeppelin? Yes it was Robinson. Warneford bombed his down.

Nitpickers of the world unite.

[alex_revell]

Why didn't Maybery, Barlow and any number of others? It may well be because they were not the first, or maybe because their raids weren't witnessed by another officer, which is a condition of the award of a VC .

[MikeW]

Vin

Ha - you didn't say shoot down, you said downed.

Nitpick that one!


Personnally I think Warneford deserved a VC and bar for dropping a bomb onto a giant bag of Hydrogen, it's a bit like dropping a grenade down your pants to kill crabs!!

Getting back to the aerodrome raids, there were a number of lone ranger attacks in 1917 and 1918, by 1918 there does not seem to have been any recognition of the feat ( or the claim).


Mike

["Junior"]

Originally Posted by alex_revell

or maybe because their raids weren't witnessed by another officer, which is a condition of the award of a VC .

And there in fact lies the truth of the matter!