I hope not to start a "bun fight"; a great deal of my distaste for Jone's slant on the subject is rooted in his outspoken and nasty campaign to discredit Bishop to support his efforts to have Mannock recognised as the leading Commonwealth Ace. Both of these pilot's scores, like all I suspect, were not 100% accurate due to the system and also to a large degree, I know, the dynamic nature of aerial combat. Both of these Gentlemen have my utmost respect and admiration. Was Bishop nothing more then a political tool to bolster the morale of a Canadian population emerging into nationhood as has become a very popular past time theory? Perhaps to some degree however of the many participants of the Great War in the Air who left us with their observations and opinions only one seems to have gone well out of his way to malign another, and that's "Taffy" Jones. Mannock was, IMHO, a much better overall leader and Fighter Pilot due to the fact that he was a "Team player" and he led from the front, Bishop was a lone hawk whose score became an end unto itself.
I've always felt strongly that Mannock's deeds spoke for themselves; he didn't need the sort of support that Jones spent the latter years of his life devoted to.
Just the musings of a fan of both of these "real men", hope you'll all forgive me approaching the edge of a rant! Perhaps this better belongs in the open discussion Thread, I seys to meself...............
Cheers,
Lance
