author
William Avery Bishop
1894–1956
A daring First World War flying ace who later wrote about combat in the air, he became one of Canada’s best-known military figures. His memoir captures both the speed of early aviation and the larger-than-life reputation that followed him.
1 Audiobook
Winged warfare : Hunting the Huns in the air
by William Avery Bishop
About the author
Born in Owen Sound, Ontario, on February 8, 1894, William Avery "Billy" Bishop became the top Canadian and British Empire ace of the First World War, officially credited with 72 victories. He served with the Royal Flying Corps and was awarded the Victoria Cross, helping turn him into one of the most famous airmen of his era.
Bishop also wrote about his wartime experience. His best-known book, Winged Warfare (1918), is a firsthand account of aerial combat in the early days of military flying, written close to the events that made him famous.
After the First World War, he remained a prominent public figure, and during the Second World War he played an important role in recruiting and promoting air power in Canada. He died in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 11, 1956.