World War One: Billy Bishop As A Canadian Hero

Throughout World War One, there were multiple men who became pilots to fight for their countries, though many did not survive past the first week. However, a man named Billy Bishop did not only survive past his first week but went on to become Canada's best flying ace. Billy Bishop was born on February 8th, 1894 and was Canada’s top flying ace of World War One. He was first sent to Military College at age 17, but his education was cut short due to the outbreak of the war. After briefly serving in the trenches, and witnessing the horrific events that took place on the ground, Billy Bishop transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. Although he started off as an observer, he quickly became an official pilot and received his wings in November 1916.

Billy Bishop should be regarded as a Canadian war hero because of his acts of bravery in battle, his continuous sacrifice, putting others lives before his own, and his outstanding skill and achievements.

Billy Bishop is seen as a Canadian war hero, because of how often he displayed bravery throughout World War One. He participated in so many lone wolf missions in enemy territory, that it caused others to believe he did not have any fear, earning him the title of hero. “Billy Bishop was a man absolutely without fear. I think he's the only man I have ever met who was incapable of fear."1 One of his first lone missions was on April 8th, 2017, where he engaged eight enemy planes, destroyed two, dispersed six and wrecked another observation balloon. On June 2nd, 2017, Billy Bishop went on another

He was an incredibly skilled pilot, shooting down a total of 72 planes, which is one of the most amounts of shot down planes by a pilot, next to the Red Baron. Billy Bishop was a keen marksman, had extraordinary eyesight, and was a natural tactician. He began to have so many great accomplishments, that people began not to be surprised at his achievements. Eddie Rickenbacker, one of the United States’ greatest First World War aces, said, “In March 1917, on his first flight as a pilot in Britain’s royal flying corps, Bishop made his first kill, shooting down a German Albatross. During the next few months, he shot down another 46 planes.”3 This demonstrates how people started to believe in him to get the job done and pull of victories no one else could. On June 2nd, 1917, he flew a solo mission behind enemy lines where he attacked a German aerodrome near Cambrai. He engaged and downed three aircraft taking off to intercept him, while he destroyed more on the ground. This allowed him to receive the Victoria cross. In the London Gazette, it was