Definitive Albert Ball

[Michael Scheetz]

Not necessarily a definitive source, but as a side note, Frederick Libby of 11th Sqd. mentioned several times (Horses Don't Fly) how Ball seemed to show up at just the right time and saved the FE.2b s from perilous fights with the enemy. Libby showered a lot of admiration on Ball.

With shared admiration,

Fee 2b

[Lufbery]

Libby showed a lot of admiration on Ball.

...and very little for Billy Bishop.

Regards,

-Drew

[Alan]

Remembering Albert Ball on this sad anniversary day. On 7 May 1917 he flew his last mission. It ended in his death, which I firmly believe was caused by his plane and no enemy action.

He is forever a brave youth, who inspired a generation to deeds of glory, and left many broken hearts. I'm sure there will be a ceremony in Nottingham at his memorial. Wish I could be there to pay my respects. :'(

I think Brooke's poem an appropriate thought that Albert would identify with:

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is forever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

Hear, Hear, Here Here

[Brisfit]

Irish (or anyone else with a thought on this). Given what you know of this young man, had he survived the war, what is the most likely scenario for how his life would have progressed?

[Alan]

My guess is he would have been a very successful industrial engineer of some type - and have a killer garden wherever he lived.

When the Second show started his sense of duty would have probably had him as some kind of Command type.

[Irish41]

Of course it is risky to speculate on What Ifs? Even for our own lives! There are so many different scenarios, based on small details. But what if Albert had survived?

If he had gone home in May 1917, he would have been out of action for several months, test flying his Austin Ball ( 8)gleefully I am sure) and wanting to get back into action. He would have married Flora and this committment might have colored his desire to fight. He was heartily sick of the war - that is clear in his letters. Last of all, he would have been a competitor of his contemporary (and my other hero ) Mick Mannock for highest scoring ace.

Had he survived past 1918, I feel he would have dropped as high scorer. Albert's style worked well for him in 1916 and even 17, but I don't think it would have kept working with the formation flying that became mandatory. And he might not have adapted. He really was a lone flier, not really much of a leader type either.

I think he would have tried to live a 'normal' life in the '20s, gone into some kind of engineering, maybe stayed with his father's business (which was his plan during the war). He had not finished school when he went to war, and being only 22 when the war ended, probably would have different goals within 10 years. He may have even faded into some kind of obscurity.

However, I believe he would have been back in the mix by 1939, probably in some training capacity role in the Second War, possibly involved in design, and maybe even a Squadron leader (who knows, his own son would probably have been a Spitfire pilot - awesome thought!).

Anyway, this is my take, all speculation --

Cheers,
Scarlett

[Alan]

I found a great site that has a lot of Albert Ball pics!

(If some of you've seen it, please forgive...)

http://pilots-n-planes-ww1.com/Allied/Brit...ll-A/Ball-A.htm

NOW I've seen him smile!

[Brisfit]

Agreed. Any "what if" scenario of this nature is pure speculation given all the variables. I do find it interesting, though. Thanks much for your thoughts. From what I've read of this remarkable young man, what you say makes sense.