If you can help

MikeW · 11 June 2008, 01:05 PM

Hello Raymond,

I know you contacted me off line but I thought I'd reply in public, that's if you don't mind talking to one of the Forum's Black Sheep (that was also the name given to the Sopwith Triplane belonging to one of Collishaw's colleagues).

Josef Scott recommended the book "Air Command", this was not actually wriiten by your Uncle, but ghosted for him. Nevertheless I urge you to find a copy, they do crop up from time to time. The book covers his whole career going into WW2 and will give a thoroughly good flavour.

If you want the early career, I have a lot of it covered in my book "A History of No.10 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service" available at vast expense from Schiffer Books. I cover every flight and fight he made with No.10 Squadron, and show many of his photographs from that period.

Please don't believe all the "hype" you will read about him - many of the early books glam up his achievements so you should take it all with a pinch of salt! I do not mean to tale anything away from him, despite being very effective at self promotion he was still a remarkable scout pilot.

All successful scout pilots have to be lucky and his commanding officer in Naval 10, Bert Bell, wrote that Collishaw was the luckiest man he knew. Whenever he found a scrap (and he was good at getting in to them) he came back with his plane riddled with bullets - interestingly C refers to his fighting style in Air Command, head on much of the time!

Anyway I don't want to bore you, better to make up you own mind.

Regards,

Mike

Gregvan · 11 June 2008, 02:43 PM

Dear Raymond,

Here's an unbiased and hearty recommendation for Mike Westrop's A History of No. 10 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service, even though it was written by one of the Forum's black sheep

.

Mike is too modest - you must buy this book, and you'll learn so much about your uncle, and the men he flew with and their era, and their accomplishments.
It's worth every cent.

Greg

StephenLawson · 14 June 2008, 07:59 PM

Mike W. a black sheep? Nonsense! Black Prince is his correct nom-de'plum! Yes I know I misspelled it.

MikeW · 15 June 2008, 03:35 AM

Ah but Stephen, I've been a naughty boy - I'm on three strikes and you're out and if I tell you what I've done it will be my third strike. I'm not even allowed to refer directly to it.

the black sheep

Breguet · 15 June 2008, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeW

Ah but Stephen, I've been a naughty boy - I'm on three strikes and you're out and if I tell you what I've done it will be my third strike. I'm not even allowed to refer directly to it. the black sheep

Surely you can earn back points by being a good boy? Maybe we could have a parole board sit on your case?