Billy Bishop
William Bishop | |
|---|---|
Lieutenant Billy Bishop c.1918 | |
| Nicknames | "Billy" "Bish" |
| Born | 8 February 1894 Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 11 September 1956 (aged 62) West Palm Beach, Florida, United States |
| Allegiance | Canada United Kingdom |
| Branch | Permanent Active Militia Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Service years | 1914–1918 1936–1944 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Commands | No. 60 Squadron RAF No. 85 Squadron RAF |
| Conflicts | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order & Bar Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches Canadian Efficiency Decoration Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France) Croix de guerre (France) |
| Alma mater | Royal 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.