Damp wind buffeted his head and face over the short windscreen. Twenty years ago, a documentary film questioning bishop s credentials as a hero was considered so blasphemous that a senate investigation was launched in an attempt to restore the pilots name. Billy bishop was canadas top fighter ace of the first world war, credited with shooting down 72 german aircraft in aerial combat over the western front during 1917 and 1918. According to the history books, billy bishop, a 23yearold canadian pilot with 22 victories to his credit by this time, took off from his airfield in the dark hours of june 2, 1917. There is a permanent exhibit with information on bishop at the grey roots museum and archives, just south of owen sound. A highly skilled pilot and a crack shot, top gun of the allied air forces, by 1918 bishop was the most highly decorated war hero in canadian history. The museum has exhibits on the family, bishop himself and veterans. The making of billy bishop is a book certain to stir up controversy. This is an indispensable work for anyone seeking to understand billy bishops story. Shortly after the outbreak of the second world war in september 1939, bishop was promoted to the rank of air marshal of the royal canadian air force rcaf. Mccaffery is to be congradulated for writing and exposing the truth behind this canadian legend and icon. Hells handmaiden canadian flying ace billy bishop i who. Billy bishops childhood home was repurposed into the billy bishop home and museum in 1987. Billy bishop was fiercely ambitious, driven by an undisguised hatred of his enemies.
Billy bishop author of winged warfare in world war i. Billy bishop was canadas top flying ace of the first world war, and was officially credited with 72 victories. Major william avery billy bishop was in his element for what he knew would probably be the last time in world war i. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.
Let bishop go down in history as a canadian hero, and by reading this book, one will gain tremendous insight into what made bishop tick, and what a true hero is made of. Billy bishop vc contains all of the qualities that have made peter kilduffs biographies such outstanding works. Billy bishop was the allies top ace in world war i. This book remains the definitive work on the subject, and mr. In 1911,1 billy bishop entered the royal military college of canada rmc in kingston, ontario, where his brother worth had graduated in 1903. This story is based on an outstanding veteran known as billy bishop. Winged warfare, the illustrared classic autobiography of canadian world war i ace billy bishop by bishop, billy and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. William billy bishop was not only the top canadian flying ace but also one of the most successful flying aces of world war 1. Beginning in the spring of 1918, canadian billy bishop began a string of successes that would hurl him up among the ranks of the best scoring aces of the war. Join facebook to connect with billy bishop and others you may know.