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Thread: MVR vs Billy Bishop

  1. #1

    Default MVR vs Billy Bishop

    However, the most colourful account on 30 Apr 1917 will be found in Dan McCaffery's 1988 description of the combat, and is quoted in full as follows:

    * * * * * *After lunch, Bishop was up again, this time flying with Jack Scott. *At the same time, the Red Baron was leaving the ground with three of his best pilots - Kurt Wolff, Karl Schaeffer and his brother Lothar - in tow. *The two formations collided over Drocourt. *Before the smoke had cleared, Bishop and Richthofen would stage the most dramatic dogfight in history.

    * * * * * *The blood-red Albatros suddenly separated from the pack and flashed directly across the path of the two silver Nieuports, banking tightly as Richthofen swung around in an effort to get behind his adversaries. *Bishop unleashed a five-round burst that failed to find the mark. *In the wink of an eye, the Red Baron was on Billy's tail and his guns were barking. *The Canadian turned immediately across him, presenting the German ace with a difficult deflection shot.

    * * * * * *Richthofen triggered a burst of seven bullets as the blue spinner roared across his line of flight. *All seven tore through the back of Bishop's coat! *Later, Billy would term it the finest marksmanship he had ever seen.

    * * *Jack Scott dashed to the rescue and the Baron was diverted for a moment. *But the red Albatros made short work of the major. *A dozen spandau slugs gutted Scott's engine and his crippled plane fell out of the fight. *Now the Red Baron and Bishop were alone again to settle their private war. *Richthofen wanted no help from his mates and they knew it. *None of the idle Albatroses made a move to interfere.

    * * * * * *Within seconds Richthofen was on Bishop's tail again. *The horizon disappeared as the Nieuport spun to the right, presenting the Red Baron with another near-impossible target.

    * * * * * *Richthofen had made a mental note of the fact that his tracers had struck just behind his opponent the first time. *So he allowed a bit more deflection and thumbed the triggers again. *A hail of lead ripped into the cockpit, smashing Bishop's instrument panel and sending a shower of black oil spewing into his face. *He was not wearing goggles but, miraculously, none of the oil got into his eyes.

    * * * * * *Bishop, spitting the putrid oil out of his mouth, was seething with rage. *It was the first time in his career that he lost his temper in a dogfight and that is what saved his life. *He stood the Nieuport on its tail and zoomed straight up. *Kicking the rudder bar, he banked over hard and plunged down on the red devil that had been tormenting him.

    * * * * * *Richthofen was taken by surprise. *So far he had been like a cat playing with a mouse and he was not prepared when the rodent turned and charged.

    * * * * * *Bishop had the Albatros in his sight and poured a five-round burst into it. *Lewis slugs slammed into the wires, spars and struts of the red plane, throwing up showers of splinters. *The Red Baron swerved out of the line of tracers, diving straight down with black smoke vomiting out of his Mercedes. *Bishop was sure he had killed Germany's greatest ace.

    * * * * * *The other black-crossed machines immediately moved in. *Bishop whipped around to meet them but before either side could open up another flight appeared in the sun overhead. *Nobody could see whose side they were on, and Bishop and the trio of Huns cleared off.

    * * * * * *In a moment the Canadian recognized the newcomers as Sopwith triplanes from a naval squadron. *He waved his thanks and hurriedly looked below, hoping to see the Red Baron crash. *But 4,000 feet beneath him the red Albatros had flattened out. *Smoke no longer poured from its exhaust pipes. *The Baron had used an old trick to escape.

    * * * * * *Bishop would write later: "He very nearly finished my young life but no other thought but admiration was in my mind as we flew home".

    * * * * * *The triplanes escorted Billy back to Filescamp and along the way they found Major Scott nursing his battered Nieuport homeward. *The major, his engine skipping badly, happily joined the formation. *(Dan McCaffery, Billy Bishop: Canadian Hero, James Lorimer, 1988)

    Makes for great reading but, MVR was on leave and visiting his father 30 Apr 1917.

  2. #2

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    Might have been another pilot flying his plane.
    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jager View Post
    Might have been another pilot flying his plane.
    Karl
    or just another red Albatros. There could be many reasons for the mistake, but still makes it a good story.

    Adding a little truth with a healthy dose of BS makes a story better or should I've wrote that the other way around.

  4. #4

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    Bishop and BS in the same story - where have we heard that before?
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Helmut View Post
    Bishop and BS in the same story - where have we heard that before?
    You caught me.



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