Canada War Ace.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19687, 20 April 1936, Page 3

Canada War Ace.

GIVEN NEW HONOUR. LT.-COL. W. A. BISHOP, V.C. BRILLIANT SERVICE RECORD. In further recognition of hi.; extraordinary war services, and of his later contribution to the advance of civil aviation in Canada, Lieut.-Col, William Avery Bishop, V.C, JJ.S.O. with bar. M.C., D.K.C., has been appointed to the highest rank in the Royal Canadian Air Force, that of Aii' Vice Marshal. It is an honorary' post, because Colonel Bishop now is engaged in business in Montreal, holding an important post with a large oil company but he flics his own aeroplane, and interests himself keenly in the agency that brought him undying fame. Colonel Bishop was one of the most brilliant figures, and one of the most spectacularly successful, in the Royal Aii' Force during the Great War. He was credited officially with bringing down 72 German machines, he is believed to have destroyed others that fell behind the enemy lines, and his "bag" included also a number of observation balloons. In one period of ten days he shot down 25 German aeroplanes; and carrying in his pocket orders to go to England for staff .duty .he added live machines to his list in a climax of skill and daring. He won his Victoria Cross for making a single-handed attack on a German aerodrome, systematically shooting down enemy machines that went up to attack him, and on tho one occasion King George gave him his V.C., his D.S.O. and his M.C He holds also all the major military decorations of the Republic of France. Colonel Bishop emerged from the war without a wound. His only injury was a minor one to his "knee, received in a bad landing of a machine in which lie' Was observer. Colonel Bishop, now only 43, went to Prance with a Canadian regiment of Mounted Rifles at the age of 21. Standing one day on an English training field, knee deep in mire, he saw an aeroplane manoeuvring easily above him, and decided instantly tliat he would like to rise above the mud. He applied for transfer to the Air Force, was accepted, and his extraordinary contribution to the Allied cause followed in due course.