Billy Bishop

William Bishop
Lieutenant Billy Bishop c.1918
Nickname(s)"Billy"
"Bish"
Born(1894-02-08)8 February 1894
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
Died11 September 1956(1956-09-11) (aged 62)
West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
AllegianceCanada
United Kingdom
Service / branchPermanent Active Militia

British Army

Royal Canadian Air Force
Years of service1914–1918
1936–1944
RankAir Marshal
CommandsNo. 60 Squadron RAF
No. 85 Squadron RAF
Battles / warsFirst World War Second World War
AwardsVictoria Cross
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Military Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Mentioned in Despatches
Canadian Efficiency Decoration[1]
Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France)
Croix de guerre (France)
Alma materRoyal Military College of Canada

Air Marshal William Avery Bishop, VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED (8 February 1894 – 11 September 1956) was a Canadian flying ace of the First World War. He was officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian and British Empire ace of the war, and also received a Victoria Cross. During the Second World War, Bishop was instrumental in setting up and promoting the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

  1. ^ Royal Military College of Canada – Review Yearbook (Kingston, Ontario Canada)- Class of 1957 page 201-203