Re: Billy Drake
 

Good afternoon Bruce,

hope you had a good weekend.
Have you found the time to have a look in your Drake book ?

Greetings from Germany to Australia,

Michael

Re: Billy Drake
 

Hurricane: 5.5 destroyed, 2 unconfirmed destroyed, 1 probable

Kittyhawk: 18 destroyed (17 and 2 shared), 3 probable, 3 damaged, 13 destroyed on ground, 1 probable on ground, 2 damaged on ground

Spitfire: 1.5 destroyed, .5 probable, 2.5 damaged, 2 destroyed on ground

As you can see, I have arrived at 23 and 4 shared destroyed.

Re: Billy Drake
 

Dear Bruce,

thanks a lot for checking.
Thus, Drake's P-40 score is either

• 14 [13+2] of a total of 19 [18+2] according to Shores and Williams (1994),
• 16 [15+2] of a total of 21 [20+2] according to Shores (1999),
• 14 [13+2] of a total of 21 [20+2] according to Thomas (2002) or
• 18 [17+2] of a total of 25 [23+4] according to himself and Shores (2009).

Which is the most valid ?

Michael

Re: Billy Drake
 

Hello Bruce & Co,

can you tell me if Drake's total of 23+4sh kills given in the book of Drake/Shores was officially acknowledged by the RAF ?

Kind regards,

Michael

Re: Billy Drake
 

Michael,

Really wouldn't have the foggiest. However, you might try checking his award citations at the London Gazette.

Cheers,

Bruce

Re: Billy Drake
 

Good afternoon Bruce,

do you mean this one ?
http://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/4...rake-Billy.htm

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Billy Drake
 

Yes Michael, that references the gazette.

BTW I don't think I can give you any more help with this thread. Good luck!

Bruce

Re: Billy Drake
 

Good morning,

I'm considering contacting the Air Historical Branch to ask if there is an official score list of the RAF.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisat...f-information/

Michael

Re: Billy Drake
 

...according to Hall (2001) his total was 20+2sh.

Re: Billy Drake
 

Good luck with the AHB. They are over worked and understaffed and even then I am not sure if they have the definitive information albeit they have a wartime carded system of claims. Not sure if this included North Africa