Albert Ball...a question.

[Viscount]

This may have been posted before but after a quick check I cannot find a similar post.

There is an account that Ball when flying solo attacked two enemy a/c who then disengaged and fled home. He was so disgusted at their lack of 'fighting spirit' that he later dropped a note on their base challenging the same two to a dual at the same location.

He expected the same two a/c to meet him later but Ball was then ambushed by a large number of enemy a/c when he flew into their trap.

According to the account, he fought against maybe 7 a/c until he was forced to feign death and land in a field. Two enemy a/c landed alongside to capture him at which point Ball took off and returned to the allied lines.

True or not?

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Viscount

There is an account that Ball . . .

Where? by whom?

[rammjaeger]

Sounds too much like one of the typical propaganda stories to me.

There was the same type of story reported about a French ace vs. Göring plus squadron.

According to German accounts British pilots did challenge Immelmann via a dropped post but the principels of the German Air Force did not allow this kind of "sport". I think Felmy reported even a suggestion of British aviators "to meet (the Germans) to have a cup of tea together" on a neutral place in the desert in Palestine. ... but the Germans smelled a rat.

[austin08]

The reference I have to the albert ball story is - "They fought for the Sky" by Quentin Reynolds published in 1958 - You have to assume that this is mythology by this date although reynolds is already defending this story which supposedly happened in spring 1917 by stating "This story became a legend in the RFC, and if there are those who beleive it to be a legend, it is written in the memoirs of german fliers who were in the squadron with the 5 embarressed fliers..." Overly defensive to my mind, German fliers are not immune to mythology - I wouldn't mind a german account as suggested by reynolds but keep in mind reynolds describes the Voss triplane as having a red cowl with skull & crossbones painted on it!! NOT!

[Bulldog90]

I've read a lot of things about Albert Ball, but I don't believe there is any truth to this tale. Its a story that is found several times in histories of the air war and in fictional pieces too. There are some examples of Ball's reports saying "EA turned and ran", but that was probably just good thinking on the part of those pilots, not a lack of guts.

Bulldog 90

[castiglione]

Rule of thumb:

When YOU run away, it's because you're being prudent.

When THEY run away, it's because they're lacking in guts.

When YOU attack regardless of odds and circumstances, it's because you're full of dash and initiative.

When THEY attack regardless of odds and circumstances, it's because they're fanatics.

I remember reading the account of Ball's encounter with the five German flyers but I believe it was in a children's book of the Great War in the air that I read whilst in elementary school.

[Vin]

Nothing about an incident like that in Bowyer's book. Where did oyu read it ?