The Courage of Early Morning

by William Arthur Bishop

A high-flying, action-packed tale for readers of all ages about the adventurous life of a Canadian icon.William Avery Bishop survived more than 170 air battles during World War 1 and was given official credit for shooting down seventy-two German aircraft. Experts on aerial warfare acknowledge that his relentless air fighting techniques and skills as a brilliant individualist and marksman were unique and his record unsurpassed. He was the first man in British military history to receive the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, and the Military Cross in one ceremony.This remarkably objective biography, written by Bishop's son, is a warm-hearted, entertaining, and often surprisingly outspoken account of the escapades and heroics of a man of great courage. Eddie Rickenbacker one said, "Richthofen usually waited for enemies to fly into his territory; Bishop was the raider, always seeking the enemy wherever he could be found...I think he's the only man I ever met who was incapable of fear."Throughout his life Billy Bishop was something of an eccentric--a man of ebullient high spirits and feverish enthusiasm. As a boy in Owen Sound, Ontario, though, he had no aptitude for learning. His three years at the Royal Military College were disastrous--an epic of rules broken and discipline scorned. He often admitted that his special method of landing wrecked more planes than he shot down.In the days when fliers could rightly think themselves heroes for just having the courage to go up in the rickety plans, Billy Bishop won the respect of comrades and enemies alike. He was one of the new breed of warriors who met the deadly challenge of air combat and made the airplane a decisive military weapon.

Genres: Biography, Canada, World War I, Nonfiction, History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

Reviews

[Ted Dettweiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biography of William Avery "Billy" Bishop by his son, William Arthur Bishop. Fascinating read detailing the wartime and post-war career of pilot, Billy Bishop. It includes lots of detail about the aircraft that Bishop flew in World War I, starting with the Nieuport and later the S.E. 5A. When I arrived at the pictures section in the middle of the book it was a revelation to see the rudimentary aircraft flown by a single pilot who also operated the guns. Combined with Will Bird's And We Go On: A Memoir of the Great War you will have an excellent two volume primer on the Great War as experienced in the trenches and in the air.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely written bio by Billy's son, completely with many action accounts and a healthy dose of 'after-action' hijinks and meetings with various peoples. I also appreciated the brief follow-up of his post-WW1 career.

[James Christensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Objective & quite exciting - but many modern day critics accuse him of fabricating his much heralded feats.

[Al Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid Book on the Greatest Allied Ace of WW1, Book has an excellent index at the end with a list of Bishop's victories, tracking the time, height, location and type of enemy aircraft that he shot down.

Bishop was a failed cadet at RMC, when his much older brother had graduated top of class and was now a well respected engineer. Billy was only saved from being kicked out of the Royal Military College by the start of the war.

When in England he met the British Socialite, Lady St. Helier who arranged from him getting transferred out of the Canadian Military into the British Royal Flying Corps.

While not a great pilot (had terrible landings) he had amazing killer instincts with a good eyesight developed from his youth hunting squirrels with a .22

He Planned with Albert Ball (then the leading British Ace) to conduct a raid on an enemy airdrome (never been done before), but Ball died before they could pull it off, Bishop then carried it off on his own with an early morning raid where he was able to take out 3 planes on the ground or as they were taking off. Awarded the Victoria Cross for the action, and also got the MC and DSO on the same day, first ever person to receive all 3 on the same day.

In addition to the first world War, book details his business career in the interwar period, where he had the same killer instinct. He forsaw the problems of the rise of Nazi Germany and did his best to rearm Canada, and felt her best contribution was through a trained airforce and he played a vital role as an Air Marshal.

Every time he went out on airpatrol he uttered the same prayer ' God give me strength, God be with me now.

[Gabriele Wills · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting look at Canada's controversial WW1 Ace hero, Billy Bishop, through his son's eyes. Surprisingly frank and wholly engaging, this book gives us a glimpse of a courageous man who was, like many pilots, also somewhat outrageous.

[Lisa Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

William writes an amazing biography of his father Billy Bishop. I was completely absorbed in the story from beginning to end, one of the best written biographies I have ever picked up.

[Brandur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting biography on Billy Bishop, with great insight into how pilots operated during World War I.