Air Ace William "Billy" Bishop
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Sacred Heart CHS
Newmarket, Ontario
Teacher: Marc Keirstead
Self and Society, 9th Grade
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Canada |
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| 1894-1956 |
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| General Information
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- Born in Owen Sound, Ontario on Feb 8, 1894.
- Educated at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario.
- Qualified as a pilot in December, 1916.
- Joined the Royal Flying Corps.
- Flew a Nieuport 17.
- From March 25, 1917 to June 19, 1918, he destroyed over 25 enemy aircraft.
- Participated in over 170 air battles.
- In total given credit for 72 kills, third highest ace allied total.
- In one battle he shot down 5 enemy aircraft in a space of 5 minutes.
- In 1918 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and given command
of 85th squadron.
- Awarded the Military Cross, Distinguished Service Award and Victoria Cross
by King George V.
- Had a reputation as an accurate shooter but a lousy pilot.
- Was instrumental in helping create the Royal Canadian Air Force.
- Germans nicknamed him "Hell's Handmaiden."
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| Quotes
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- "It made my heart leap to see my smoking bullets hitting the machhine just where the closely hooded pilot was sitting."
- "Oh, how I hate the Hun. They have done in so many of my friends. I'll make them pay, I swear."
- "Better to die voluntarily crashing than to have the enemy send you down in flames."
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