06/19/2026
On June 19, 1918, Canadian flying ace Capt William (Billy) Avery Bishop took off on his final solo patrol of the First World War (FWW). Flying an S.E.5a, a legendary British single-seat biplane fighter developed during the FWW, Capt Bishop shot down 5 German aircraft in just 12 minutes, an extraordinary achievement that contributed to him earning the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Born on February 8, 1894, in Owen Sound, Ontario, Billy Bishop attended the Royal Military College in Kingston before joining the Army when the FWW began. After arriving in Britain, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. The following year, he successfully applied for pilot training and joined No. 60 Squadron in 1917.
At the end of 1918, Capt Bishop retired from the Royal Air Force and was appointed honorary air marshal in 1938. With the onset of the Second World War in September 1939, he returned to active duty as an air commodore. Tasked by the Royal Canadian Air Force with leading recruiting efforts, he proved highly effective in the role.
Although Capt Bishop (Air Marshal Bishop at the time) stepped down in 1944 due to health concerns and moved into the oil industry, he later offered his services again when the Korean War began.
Billy Bishop passed away on September 11, 1956, at age 62. He is laid to rest in his hometown of Owen Sound. In 1974, he was recognized as one of the inaugural inductees into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.