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True Canadian Heroes in the Air
A compilation of the exploits and biographies of a selection of Canada's Aviation Heroes in WWI, WW2 & The Korean War.
307 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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About the author
Arthur Bishop
5 booksWilliam Arthur Christian Avery Bishop was born June 13, 1923, to First World War Canadian fighter ace William (Billy) Bishop and Margaret Eaton Burden. A daughter, Marise, was born several years later.
The Bishop finances were in a precarious state after the crash of 1929, when Billy Bishop lost most of his savings. The family returned to Canada from Britain when Billy became vice-president of the McColl-Frontenac Oil Co. in Montreal.
While the senior Bishop established himself in Montreal, Arthur, Marise (known as Jackie) and his mother stayed for a time with her family in Toronto and spent the summer at Ravenscrag, the Eaton family cottage on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka. It was a charmed life for a youngster. Arthur first flew in an airplane when he was 10; after, he flew often with his father. “I had utter confidence in my father. I was beginning to think of him as many others did – as invincible,” he wrote.
With war looming, Billy Bishop was appointed honorary air vice-marshal of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1938. His task was to woo public support to raise money for air-force expansion. His son proved an eager recruit.
Arthur had been sent to boarding school at Bishop’s College in Lennoxville, Que. He was an indifferent student but his father arranged a week at the RCAF Central Flying Training School for the 15-year-old and a friend. It was his first experience with the RCAF. He recalled “a tingling sensation of being witness to something exciting in which I might one day take part.”
In 1941, while Arthur was home for Christmas, he met Priscilla (Cilla) Jean Aylen, daughter of prominent Ottawa lawyer John Aylen. Arthur was immediately smitten and a courtship (of sorts) would unfold over the next four years as the two dated others and war intervened.
Although comparisons with his father would be inevitable and often exasperating, Arthur was determined to forge his own path. But it was not easy. In June of 1941, he turned 18. He was eager to join the RCAF, but in order to do so, had to get his junior matriculation, which seemed unattainable. But later that summer, the RCAF lowered the education qualifications.
On Sept. 8, 1941, Arthur joined the RCAF but would not make his first solo flight until 1942. On July 30, 1942, Arthur received his wings from his father. Cilla told him that when vice-marshal Bishop learned his son was to receive his commission and be sent overseas as a fighter pilot, “He was so proud he sat down with tears in his eyes.”
Mr. Bishop was posted to the 401 Squadron in the UK as a Spitfire pilot. To him, the Spitfire was the perfect flying machine, with its elegant, elliptical shape and manoeuvrability in the air.
But the reality of aerial combat was terrifying. In a 1995 interview, Mr. Bishop remembered: “My worst moment in the war was probably the first time we went into action together as a squadron. …You’re flying in formation but when you spot something, it’s every man for himself. You’re suddenly on your own. All I could see were planes flying left and right, because until you get acclimatized to what’s going on, it’s absolute confusion.”
Bishop went on to survive 2 years of combat. He returned to Canada and married Cilla in 1946. They had 2 children, William and Diana.
Bishop worked both as a journalist and in advertising. Eventually, he left advertising to form a public relations firm in partnership with his wife. Bishop also wrote several books, one of them a biography of his father that became a best-seller.
The Bishop finances were in a precarious state after the crash of 1929, when Billy Bishop lost most of his savings. The family returned to Canada from Britain when Billy became vice-president of the McColl-Frontenac Oil Co. in Montreal.
While the senior Bishop established himself in Montreal, Arthur, Marise (known as Jackie) and his mother stayed for a time with her family in Toronto and spent the summer at Ravenscrag, the Eaton family cottage on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka. It was a charmed life for a youngster. Arthur first flew in an airplane when he was 10; after, he flew often with his father. “I had utter confidence in my father. I was beginning to think of him as many others did – as invincible,” he wrote.
With war looming, Billy Bishop was appointed honorary air vice-marshal of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1938. His task was to woo public support to raise money for air-force expansion. His son proved an eager recruit.
Arthur had been sent to boarding school at Bishop’s College in Lennoxville, Que. He was an indifferent student but his father arranged a week at the RCAF Central Flying Training School for the 15-year-old and a friend. It was his first experience with the RCAF. He recalled “a tingling sensation of being witness to something exciting in which I might one day take part.”
In 1941, while Arthur was home for Christmas, he met Priscilla (Cilla) Jean Aylen, daughter of prominent Ottawa lawyer John Aylen. Arthur was immediately smitten and a courtship (of sorts) would unfold over the next four years as the two dated others and war intervened.
Although comparisons with his father would be inevitable and often exasperating, Arthur was determined to forge his own path. But it was not easy. In June of 1941, he turned 18. He was eager to join the RCAF, but in order to do so, had to get his junior matriculation, which seemed unattainable. But later that summer, the RCAF lowered the education qualifications.
On Sept. 8, 1941, Arthur joined the RCAF but would not make his first solo flight until 1942. On July 30, 1942, Arthur received his wings from his father. Cilla told him that when vice-marshal Bishop learned his son was to receive his commission and be sent overseas as a fighter pilot, “He was so proud he sat down with tears in his eyes.”
Mr. Bishop was posted to the 401 Squadron in the UK as a Spitfire pilot. To him, the Spitfire was the perfect flying machine, with its elegant, elliptical shape and manoeuvrability in the air.
But the reality of aerial combat was terrifying. In a 1995 interview, Mr. Bishop remembered: “My worst moment in the war was probably the first time we went into action together as a squadron. …You’re flying in formation but when you spot something, it’s every man for himself. You’re suddenly on your own. All I could see were planes flying left and right, because until you get acclimatized to what’s going on, it’s absolute confusion.”
Bishop went on to survive 2 years of combat. He returned to Canada and married Cilla in 1946. They had 2 children, William and Diana.
Bishop worked both as a journalist and in advertising. Eventually, he left advertising to form a public relations firm in partnership with his wife. Bishop also wrote several books, one of them a biography of his father that became a best-seller.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 30, 2013
An interesting book. A good record of Canada's airmen in both World Wars & the Korean War.
A little niggle for me is the issue over who shot down the 'Red Baron' the author clearly favours Roy Brown & not the Australian machine-gunner Sgt. C. B. Popkin. I think if the author was going to step in to this controversy, he should at least have got his facts right, the infantry man was firing a Vickers Machine gun and NOT a rifle! From my knowledge of the issue I believe there is credit to be given to both.
A little niggle for me is the issue over who shot down the 'Red Baron' the author clearly favours Roy Brown & not the Australian machine-gunner Sgt. C. B. Popkin. I think if the author was going to step in to this controversy, he should at least have got his facts right, the infantry man was firing a Vickers Machine gun and NOT a rifle! From my knowledge of the issue I believe there is credit to be given to both.
Displaying 1 of 1 review