Lothar Richthofen and Albert Ball

camelpilot · 2 May 2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex_revell

Kirk, When I interviewed Crowe he told me that, regardless of his combat report he did not follow Ball into the cloud. Don't forget, this was not just a cloud, but a very dangerous storm cloud - the term escapes me for the moment. Crowe told me that there was no way that he would have taken the risk of flying into such a cloud and thought Ball extremely foolish to have done so. If you think that Lothar was entitled to a victory because Ball and he flew, fighting, into such a cloud, then fine.

Southside Bucky. No! what a strange idea!!

You interviewed Crowe???? What year did you interview him?

alex_revell · 2 May 2008, 09:47 AM

Yes, I interviewed Crowe, but sorry, after forty years I can't remember the exact year.

R Gannon · 2 May 2008, 07:17 PM

Theboy

You are right I am wrong - it was

Reginald Soar

I must write 100 times that I must not go off my memory in these things. I use a library PC and can't check my log etc. 2Lt RM Child of 19 Sqn was also involved.

Kirk G'day mate (sound Ozzy enough?)

Again if my memory is correct the Wilhelm account is in an early C&C US? But whatever, I doubt if he would contradict the printed words of MvR even if he had seen, or remembered, something different. And one might also ask why

LvR left us with nothing - re his victory over Ball - in his later writings? As it is recorded that he FTL at Bauvin not to far from Anneoulin, locations somewhat north of the main area of action, then I would certaily agree they fought each other. But as everything, including Nachrichtenblatt, accords LvR a Sopwith Triplane, then as I see it; Ball's SE was not the object of his claim. As I see it, the German's found that they had a high profile British pilot down their side and it was a propaganda coup to credit Ball as being the pilot of the Sop Tripe (Soar?) claimed by LvR. In many ways I see similarities in the British according MvR to Brown. It made good copy. Pointedly although Nachrichtemblatt firgures Ball as LvR's victim in the summary for 7 May (issue #11), the two subsequent reference to the demise of Ball in issues #14 & #15 do not mention LvR at all.

Cheers Russ.

CORVUS · 2 May 2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RussGannon

Theboy

You are right I am wrong - it was

Reginald Soar

Cheers Russ.

My goodness we have a distinguished group discussing this issue.

Just curious. There have now been two posts that have expressed a certain amount of assurance that it was Reginald Soar in a Triplane. I looked at Reginald's combat record here at this site and I see no claims made for May 7. I was wondering what information is there that would lead one to believe it was he, other than the fact that it was a very good Sopwith Triplane pilot opposing Lothar.

Lou

camelpilot · 4 May 2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex_revell

Yes, I interviewed Crowe, but sorry, after forty years I can't remember the exact year.

I only just now realised that you have written a book about 56 Squadron. How very exciting. Do you have any left? ANd if so, how much?

Thanks

R Gannon · 4 May 2008, 06:36 PM

Corvus

Good point. One of the best sources of information in these maters are the Squadron Record Books - they detailed all pilots and a/c out and when and if they returned with a summary of the patrols activities and airfights. The quality of recording (and writing) varied from squadron to squadron. I've managed to get hold of some entries for several squadrons, but it amounts to a snow flake on the top of the iceberg in regards what was actually compiled. I don't have 8 naval for 7 May 17 and one would need to go to the PRO in London to track it down.
'Fighter Pilot on the Western Front' - a diary of FSL Crundall, is a pretty good window to Naval 8 this period, but he only gives details for a morning patrol this date.

The Goering Diary in OTF (can't give issue off the cuff) would indicate that the Germans also maintained the equivilent of SRB's, but sadly they are all lost to us (lost I believe in the bombing of Dresden 1945).

Cheers Russ

alex_revell · 5 May 2008, 01:55 AM

Camel Pilot,
Sorry, but I have none left. You might pick up a copy via the web, although they seem to go for a ridiculously high price, but keep trying, you may be lucky.
Alex

camelpilot · 5 May 2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex_revell

Camel Pilot,
Sorry, but I have none left. You might pick up a copy via the web, although they seem to go for a ridiculously high price, but keep trying, you may be lucky.
Alex

Reprint it! Every one is doing it. I know a great printer. Let me know if you're interested.

crankcase · 5 May 2008, 11:19 PM

...and if you want a (competitive) quotation from Romania, let me know!

marc

alex_revell · 6 May 2008, 03:57 AM

Crankcase and Camel pilot.
Thanks both of you for your offers, but it's not as simple as that. Although the text etc is my copyright, the layout of the book was owned by Flying Machines Press. FMP sold it to someone else - the name escapes me for the moment. Jack Herris of FMP gave me the name of these people a little while ago now and I emailed them about a possibe reprint but had no reply.