Billy Drake
 

Hello there gentlemen,

in ACES HIGH Vol2 Christopher Shores adds two confirmed kills (6Jun42 & 31Oct42) to Billy Drake's kill list given in ACES HIGH Vol1. Thus, his score is said to increase from 18+2sh to 20+2sh.
However, in ACES HIGH Vol2 Drake's 26Oct42 kill is given the designation "Delete". What does that mean ?
(Deleting this kill would reduce his his total to 19+2sh).

Have a nice Friday,

Michael

Re: Billy Drake
 

TOTAL: 23 and 3 shared destroyed, 2 unconfirmed destroyed (early 1940 classification), 4 and 1 shared probable, 5 and 1 shared damaged in air; 15 destroyed, 1 probably destroyed and 2 damaged on the ground.

Billy Drake, Fighter Leader: The Autobiography of Group Captain B. Drake DSO, DFC & Bar, US DFC; Billy Drake with Christopher Shores; Grub Street 2002.

See Appendix II (pp 107-8).

Cheers,

Bruce

Re: Billy Drake
 

Hmm, that means Shores has approved the 24,5 kills reported by Drake himself.
Can you tell me how many of those were scored in the Hurricane/P-40/Spitfire ?

I wish you a good start into a successful new week,

Michael

Re: Billy Drake
 

Hello Michael
Shores et al A Hisrory of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945 Vol 2 (2012) mentions Drake's 26 Oct 1942 claim. Drake and P/O Wright each claimed a Me 109 shot down during an 112 Sqn escort mission (0900-0950) but of the attacking 109s only one was lost.

HTH
Juha

Re: Billy Drake
 

Good evening Bruce & Juha,

can you tell me how many kills of Drake's 24,5-kills-tally were scored in the Hurricane/P-40/Spitfire, respectively ?

Michael

Re: Billy Drake
 

Hello Michael
I have not got any better info than that in Christopher Shores' et al ACES HIGH and ACES HIGH Vol 2.

Juha

Re: Billy Drake
 

Hello Juha,
Drake's biography was published later.
Bruce, could you have a look ?

Michael

Re: Billy Drake
 

Michael: I will, but the book is packed away atm. I have to locate it first!

Bruce

Re: Billy Drake
 

Hello Bruce,

I'm looking forward to it.
Have a very nice weekend,

Michael

Re: Billy Drake
 

Michael, it is not necessary to repeat questions unless they were buried in older threads.