Ball photos. A mystery

[alex_revell]

One thing which has always puzzled me is how did the two photos, taken of Ball’s SE5 at London Colney on April 6th, turn up in the photo album of Karl Allmenroder, who was killed in June 1917. To my knowledge these are the only prints of these photos that have ever been seen. If Ball was carrying the prints on him when he was killed on May 7th, then the negs would have been back in England and one would have thought that other prints would have turned up over the years.
I think I may know why Ball was killed on May 7th. When I was last at 56 Squadron they had taken Ball’s tunic out of the case for some reason. In the pocket they found a lady’s lace glove which had lain there, undiscovered, over the years. Was this glove given to Albert as a keep-safe token by Miss Young and the fact that he wasn’t carrying it on May 7th caused his luck to finally run out. TFIC!!
I’m not sure if my post got through (that bloody Illegal Operation message again! Happening all the time now) concerning the correction to the victor over Kay on 30th April 1917 given in HITEB. I gave this as Nathanael of Jasta 5 but the area is not correct and I now believe that it should be Ltn Mallinckrodt of Jasta 20. Innediately after shooting down Kay, M was shot down and seriously wounded by Leach. Hence he made no claim.
Alex

Dear Alex,
* I just happen to have a copy of your fine book with me (I'm posting this from work); the idea that Ball might have been carrying these photos on his person when he was killed will probably stand up to scrutiny... They appear to be from a set of photos of Ball in his twin-Lewis SE5, i.e., taken at the same time (I was looking at all the snow on the ground).
* I looked up Allmenröder on YAHOO, and I may have come up with something of interest:
* On 13 May 1917, LvR was WIA; Allmenröder was made acting CO of Jasta 11 that same day (until 15 June 1917, when MvR returned from leave). My supposition is that Allmenröder came into contact with these photos around this time, assuming that LvR had them in his possession, as part of the propaganda campaign surrounding his "shooting down" of Ball (which, thanks to your book and your posts, I don't believe for one god damn minute)...
* For the record, Allmenröder did shoot down a BE2c (#4595, 13 Sqdn) on 7 May 1917. Further, the Trent College site claims it was A. who shot down Chaworth-Musters on 7 May 1917; and, according to two sources, it was Collishaw who downed and killed Allmenroeder on 28 June 1917 or 29 June, please take your pick. (I'm not saying that I believe any of this, I'm just the messenger!)
* As for the lady's glove, I'm still wondering about Ball's 'dog tags' (did Flora have them?) and his bracelet i.d., a gift from Flora (was he wearing this when he crashed?).
* Truth will out...
VBR,
Captain Lewis (your newest fan)

[alex_revell]

Capt Lewis
Yes, but the question is, if Ball had the prints in his pocket then the negs would have been back in the UK and why have no other copies never turned up.
Sorry, but Trent College are wrong. As far as one can be certain about these things, Voss got C-M.
Alex

There are some cases of persons carrying the forbidden camera or rolls of film with them. A case in point is the fellow who flew out of Imbros and was shot down by Emil Meinecke in the Dardenelles. He was killed, but the roll of film provided some nice shots of Nieuport 12 aircraft they were using at Imbros. Sorry that I can't remember the names... at work, you know.

Perhaps this is another such case where the film was developed after aquiring it off the body. Again, no way to prove it, but a possibility and could point to why no copies in the UK. Also, the negs could have been destroyed during the Second War.

Aviatik