More Accurate to say ....

[PFFF]

Just read the Victoria Cross citation for Airman William Barker. <br> It appears to be ambigious-although it claims that he brought down four of the enemy, it "ALSO remarks that two of the EA "Were Sent Into A Spin"!!
Would it be more accurate to say that:
1) Barker shot down a 2 seater EA
2) Barker was wounded yet aparently fired at least 2 aircraft that were "Sent into a Spin"
3) Barker possibly shot down 1 EA besdies the 2 seater.
To sum up Barker could possibly be credited with 2 aircraft Shot down; in regard to the other alleged EA shot down-if they were going down in a "Spin"
but not otherwise damaged/destroyed this could explain why researchers have a hard time trying to match up 4 EA claims when there could possibly have been just two.
4) HAs the two seater Barker show down ever been ID as to unit?
5) Any 1 EA Figther shot down listed near where the 2 seater went down?

[Graeme]

His citation is anything but amiguous (I've inserted numbers for clarification):

On the morning of the 27th October, 1918, this officer observed an enemy two-seater over the Foret de Mormal. He attacked this machine, and after a short burst it broke up in the air. At the same time a Fokker biplane attacked him, and he was wounded in the right thigh, but managed, despite this, to shoot down the enemy aeroplane in flames. [1] and [2]

He then found himself in the middle of a large formation of Fokkers, who attacked him from all directions; and was again severely wounded in the left thigh; but succeeded in driving down two of the enemy in a spin.

He lost consciousness after this, and his machine fell out of control. On recovery he found himself being again attacked heavily by a large formation, and singling out one machine, he deliberately charged and drove it down in flames. [3]

During this fight his left elbow was shattered and he again fainted, and on regaining consciousness he found himself still being attacked, but, notwithstanding that he was now severely wounded in both legs and his left arm shattered, he dived on the nearest machine and shot it down in flames. [4]

Being greatly exhausted, he dived out of the fight to regain our lines, but was met by another formation, which attacked and endeavoured to cut him off, but after a hard fight he succeeded in breaking up this formation and reached our lines, where he crashed on landing.

This combat, in which Major Barker destroyed four enemy machines (three of them in flames), brought his total successes up to fifty enemy machines destroyed, and is a notable example of the exceptional bravery and disregard of danger which this very gallant officer has always displayed throughout his distinguished career.

So, it would be more accurate to say that he attacked a two-seater that broke up in the air, a Fokker biplane that went down in flames, two Fokker biplanes that went down in spins and two Fokker biplanes that went down in flames.

Graeme