Canadian History in the Twentieth Century
Captain William A. Bishop, seated in the cockpit of his Nieuport Scout. Taken August 6, 1917, while he was with No. 60 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps.
This is the story of Billy Bishop.
William Avery "Billy" Bishop is best known for being the top Canadian flying ace during World War I.
On February 8th, 1894, Billy Bishop was born in Owen Sound, Ontario to William A. and Margaret Bishop. He was the second of three children. At a young age Billy gained a stature as a fighter by defending himself and his friends against bullies. Bishop kept clear of team sports, he liked solo activities such as horse riding, shooting and swimming. He wasn't the best student, he quit things he couldn't master right away and often skipped class.
miscellaneous fact
Bishop enrolled in the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston in 1911. Billy's studies never did go smoothly and he never ended up graduating from RMC. Bishop was held back his first year; being caught cheating on his tests. By his third year, World War I had broken out and Billy Bishop enlisted in the army.
Bishop left RMC and with his riding and shooting skills, was assigned to the Mississauga Horse cavalry regiment. He was even commissioned as an officier but due to a case of pneumoniea, he was unable to join his regiment as they were sent overseas. Bishop was then transferred to the 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles, a mounted infantry unit, then stationed in London, Ontario.
When Billy Bishop finally made it overseas (to England), he became quickly irritated with the lack of action on the ground and the wet, muddy, miserable environment of the trenches.
miscellaneous fact
Bishop was a master on the firing range. He appeared to have "super-human" eyesight that allowed him to hit a target so far away, the others could only see it as a dot.
It was a summer day in July of 1915 when Bishop saw an airplane landing in a field near the military base and then take to the sky again. Bishop then said "It's clean up there! I'll bet you don't get any mud or horse shit on you up there. If you die, at least it would be a fast death." This was the moment Billy Bishop's life changed entirely.
Bishop immediately applied to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and as there were no current positions to be trained as a pilot, he became an RFC observer in September of 1915 knowing he could later be admitted as a pilot.
Bishop started his pilot training in October of 1916. He began at the School of Military Aeronautics in Oxford. He finished top in his class for meteorology, radio and navigation. This was not something Billy was going to quit easily on. Bishop then started his flying lessons at Upavon Flying School on Salisbury Plain. Billy Bishop recieved his wings in November of 1916.
Captain Billy Bishop shown seated in his Nieuport Scout aircraft, as he checks on his Lewis gun. Photographed on August 6, 1917.
By March 1917, Billy Bishop joined No. 60 squadron and was sent to the front lines in France. On the 25th, he experienced his first dogfight (aerial combat between fighter aircrafts within a close range) and shot down his first German Albatross airplane.
Billy Bishop was a natural. By the end of May that same year he had 22 recorded victories.He would soon be on the receiving end of many medals and awards.
The event centering the most famous debate regarding Billy Bishop took place early morning, June 2, 1917. According to Bishop, he flew over enemy lines and ambushed a German aerodrome. Bishop shot down three German aircrafts and almost ended his legend right there. He was only able to stay hidden by flying under four enemy planes until he could land in friendly territory. Nobody could confirm these kills as Bishop went on this mission solo.
On August 29, 1917 he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions that day - this award was very controversial as the events of June 2 were only known by Bishop. Bishop was also presented the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross for his service so far.
Billy Bishop's first contact with aviation was at age 15 when he crafted an airplane out of cardboard, string and wooden crates. He then proceeded to "take off" from his three story house. Fortunately, his sister found him unharmed in the rubble.
William A. Bishop's military decorations. Displayed at the Canadian war Museum in Ottawa. Bishop's awards include: Victoria Cross, Order of the Bath (Companion), Distinguished Service Order (2), Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross (UK), 1914–15 Star Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, War Medal 1939–1945, King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, King George VI Coronation Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, British War Medal (Silver), Victory Medal with MID, Canadian Efficiency Decoration[1], Légion d'honneur (Chevalier), Croix de guerre (2 Bronze Palms).
In September 1917, Bishop was granted leave and decided to return to Canada to marry his long time fiancée, Margaret Burden. They had a son and a daughter who later both took part in the Second World War.
After his wedding, Bishop was assigned to the British War Mission in Washington DC. He was to help the Americans build an air force. While stationed in Washington, Billy decided to write an autobiography which he entitled; Winged Warfare.
In 1918, Bishop returned to France where he became the Commander of the new No. 85 Squadron who were nicknamed the Flying Foxes. That June, Bishop was asked to help organize a Canadian flying corps in Britain. At this time, Billy Bishop already had 62 recorded victories. During the following three days, Bishop brought his number of victories up to a record total of 72, shooting down five German fighter planes in 12 minutes on his final day in France. This earned Bishop the Distinguished Flying Cross. It was also around this time the French government presented him with the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre with two palms.
The now titled, Lieutenant Colonel Bishop, returned to England to command the Canadian Wing of the Royal Air Force.
Bishop returned to Canada in October of 1918. He gave many public speeches encouraging enlistment in the air force. Then, in early November, he once again set sail for England only to recieve a message on November 11, that the Great War had mercifully ended.
Billy Bishop was an iconic figure in WWI and continued to be in the Second World War. In 1936, he was comissioned as the first Canadian air vice-marshal and shortly after the outbreak of WW2, Bishop was promoted to the rank of air-marshal of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Bishop served as a Director of the RCAF, he was head of recruitment. Bishop was so sucessful at recruiting for the air force; many applicants had to be turned down.
In 1942, Billy Bishop appeared as himself in the film, Captains of the Clouds. A Hollywood tribute to the RCAF.
Due to stress of the war, Bishop's health was failing. After many medical leaves, he resigned his positioin at the RCAF and returned to a private enterprise in Montreal. He retired in 1952 at age 58. Bishop's son later said that he had looked 70 on his 50th birthday.
miscellaneous fact
Air Marshal Billy Bishop in a parade during the filming of “Captains of the Clouds” at Uplands in Ottawa, Ontario, April 5, 1943.
At the outbreak of the Korean War, Bishop offered to return to his recruitment role but his health was very fragile and was respectfully declined.
On September 11,1956, William Avery Bishop died in his sleeped while on vacation in Palm Beach, Florida, just the way he wanted to go, peacefully and not in the midst of battle. He was 62 years old.
Bishop's funeral service was held with full Air Force Honours in Toronto, Ontario. Bishop's body was cremated and the asheswere added into the family's plot at the Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound, Ontario. As well, a Memorial Service for Air Marshal Bishop took place at St Paul's Church, Bristol, United Kingdom on the 19th September 1956.
The story of Billy Bishop continues to be told today. He was a living legend of his time. Billy Bishop will always be remembered as a Canadian war hero.