February 8, 1894 - Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada - William Avery Bishop is born
September 1, 1900 - Owen Sound, Ontario - Enrolls at Beech Street School
February 23, 1909 - While in Owen Sound - Canadian aviator John McCurdy becomes the first british subject to fly an aircraft in the British Empire when he pilots the "Silver Dart" off the ice of Bras d'Or Lake in Nova Scotia.
January(?) 1(?), 1910 - Owen Sound, Ontario - At the age of 15, after reading newspaper accounts of the first heavier-than-air flight in Canada by canadian John McCurdy in his Silver Dart in 1909, Bishop builds an aircraft out of cardboard, wooden crates and string, and attempts to fly off the roof of his three-story house. He is taken unscathed from the wreckage by his sister
February 8, 1911 - Owen Sound, Ontario - 17th birthday - Billy applies for admission to the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC)
August 28, 1911 - Kingston, Ontario - Bishop enters the Royal Military College of Canada, at age 17
August 14, 1914 - Kingston, Ontario - Returns to RMC for his graduating year. Appointed a Lance Corporal =(START)
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| Cadet Billy Bishop, 1914 |
September 28, 1914 - Kingston, Ontario - RMC commandant, Colonel Lancelot R.Carleton, forwards Bishop's application to join the 9th Mississauga Horse Cavalry Regiment
September 30, 1914 - Kingston, Ontario - Bishop is discharged from the RMC "at parents' request"
October(?) 5(?), 1914 - Toronto - Visit to Margaret Eaton Burden at her home in Toronto
November(?) 1(?), 1914 - Mississauga, Canada - Bishop joins the Mississauga Horse Cavalry Regiment
December(?) 1(?), 1914 - Mississauga - Due to pneumonia and an allergy, Bishop doesn't ship out with the Regiment for Europe
January 1(?), 1915 - London, Ontario - Returns to duty. Transfered to the 7th Canadian mounted Rifles
April 5, 1915 - London, Ontario - His horse rears and falls back on him. Bishop is wounded in the face and taken to Victoria Hospital
April 11, 1915 - London, Ontario - Discharged from hospital
June 8, 1915 - Montreal - 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles board the british passenger ship "S.S. Caledonia" to England
June 21, 1915 - Off the Coast of Ireland - The ship convoy is attacked by german u-boats off the Coast of Ireland. Two ships are sunk and 300 canadians die
June 23, 1915 - Plymouth, England - The "Caledonia" arrives in Plymouth, unharmed. The men are shipped to Shorncliffe Cavalry Camp
June 24, 1915 - Canterbury - The regiment crosses south England by train to Canterbury
July 1(?), 1915 - Canterbury - After watching a Royal Flying Corps (RFC) aircraft return from a mission, Bishop says "it's clean up there! I'll bet you don't get any mud or horse shit on you up there. If you die, at least it would be a clean death."
July 24, 1915 - Shorncliffe, England - Letter to Margaret from Helena Hospital in Shorncliffe
August 5(?), 1915 - Shorncliffe, England - Discharged from Hospital
August 9, 1915 - Canterbury - Bishop gets his application to join the Royal Flying Corps signed
September 1, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury, England - Reports to 21 (Training) Squadron at Netheravon for elementary air instruction. As there were no places available for pilots in the flight school, he chose to be an observer
September 4, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - First flight as observer
September 6, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - "I had two glorious flights...with my flight-commander, an Australian named Rutledge. This is the greatest game in the world, every moment full of intense excitement. A man ceases to be human when he is way up. The Earth is merely a map and you feel that to you nothing is impossible"
October 2, 1915 - Outside Dover - Bishop reports to the Duke of York School outside Dover
October 30(?), 1915 - Outside Dover - Bishop completes machine-gun and artillery-ranging practice and begins flying over the frontlines in France
November 11, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - "I was put in charge of all the observers for the 4th Wing. It is a promotion but a rotten job, as I have to train all the new observers coming in and lecture, etc., which being rotten at I heartily hate"
November 24, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - Bishop and his new pilot, Captain Wadham, crash land while landing. Both of them survive with minor bruises
November 27, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - Participates in the testing of the new Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3
December 24, 1915 - London, England - Bishop goes to the Carlton for supper. Visit to Regent Palace Hotel
December 25, 1915 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - Christmas letter to Margaret
January 15, 1916 - Netheravon, N. of Salisbury - While all of 21 Squadron's equipment is transported to Avonmouth, at the mouth of the River Avon, Bishop leads a contingent of men to Southampton to join up with other squadron members
January 16, 1916 - Southampton - Arrives in Southampton
January 18, 1916 - Rouen - Arrives in a little hotel in Rouen, after a rough sea voyage
January 23, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - The squadron arrives at Boisdinghem airfield, near Saint-Omer, equipped with R.E.7 reconnaissance aircraft
January 29, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - Artillery-spotting sortie with Lieutenant Hunt
February 8, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - Bishop's plane is attacked by german Fokkers
February 9, 1916 - St.Omer - Admitted to No.10 Stationary Hospital in St.Omer, for slight frostbite to his face
March 9, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - Bombing raid behind german lines with other 5 F.E.7s from 21 Squadron
April 1(?), 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - During one take off, his aircraft engine fails and he badly injures his knee
May 2, 1916 - Folkestone, England - His knee injury is aggravated when he falls on the concrete pier while disembarking from the channel boat from Boulogne
May 11, 1916 - London, England - Bishop is hospitalized in Bryanston Square Hospital
May 26, 1916 - London - At the hospital, Bishop meets Lady St.Hellier, a fashionably rich and politically influential widow who saw it as her patriotic duty to visit convalescent servicemen
June(?) 1(?), 1916 - Plymouth(?) - After his father suffers a small stroke, Bishop is allowed to recuperate in Canada with the help of Lady St.Hellier, missing the Battle of the Somme, where his squadron is decimated
June(?) 15(?), 1916 - Halifax, Nova Scotia - Bishop arrives in Halifax
June(?) 20(?), 1916 - Montreal, Quebec - Passing by Montreal on his way to Toronto
June(?) 21(?), 1916 - Toronto - Bishop arrives in Toronto
June(?) 22(?), 1916 - Owen Sound - Bishop returns home on leave
August(?) 15(?), 1916 - Halifax, Nova Scotia - Departs to England
August(?) 30(?), 1916 - Plymouth, England(?) - Bishop reaches Plymouth (speculative date and place)
September 1(?), 1916 - London, England - Returns to England, where he is repeatedly rejected as medically unfit
October 1, 1916 - Oxford, England - Bishop reports to Brasenose College at the University of Oxford to begin a four-week course of ground-school training
November 1, 1916 - Upavon, Salisbury Plain - With the influence of Lady St.Hellier, is accepted for training as a pilot at the Central Flying School at Upavon
November 4, 1916 - Upavon, Salisbury Plain - First solo flight - 30 minutes
November 15, 1916 - Sutton's Farm, Essex - Bishop receives his wings and is attacked to No.37 Squadron RFC at Sutton's Farm, Essex, flying the BE.2c
December 8, 1916 - Sutton's Farm, Essex - Appointed to flying officer duties
January(?) 1(?), 1917(?) - Sutton's Farm, Essex - Bishop dislikes flying at night over London, searching for German airships, and he soon requests a transfer to France
March 17, 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - Bishop arrives at 60 Squadron at Filescamp Farm near Arras, to fly the Nieuport 17 fighter
March 22, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - First patrol - He has trouble controlling his run-down aircraft, is nearly shot down by anti-aircraft fire, becoming separated from his group
March 24, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - After crash-landing his aircraft during a practice flight in front of General John Higgins, Bishop is ordered to return to flight school at Upavon. Major Alan Scott, the new commander of 60 Squadron, convinces Higgins to let him stay until a replacement arrives
March 25, 1917 - near St.Leger - Four Nieuports (including Bishop's) engage three Albatros D.III Scouts near St Leger. Bishop shoots down one of them but his engine fails in the process. He lands 270 meters from the german front line. After running to the allied trenches, Bishop spends the night in a rainstorm. He writes a letter home: "I am writing this from a dugout 300 yards from our front line, after the most exciting adventure of my life". General Higgins congratulates him and rescinds his order to return to flight School. (1 total)
March 30, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - Bishop is named Flight Commander
March 31, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (2 total)
April 7, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - 1 Albatros D.III and one balloon shot down (4 total)
April 8, 1917 - between Douai and Flesquières | NE of Arras | near Vitry-en-Artois - Bishop shoots down another Albatros D.III and two other aircraft (7 total) - Bishop has the cowling of his Nieuport painted blue, to identify him as an ace
April 13(?), 1917 - Filescamp Farm - Military Cross for his participation in the Battle of Vimy Ridge
April 20, 1917 - over Bianche-Saint-Vaast - 1 Aviatik shot down (8 total)
April 22, 1917 - over Vis-en-Artois - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (9 total)
April 23, 1917 - between Vitry-en-Artois and Évin-Malmaison - 1 Albatros D.III and another aircraft shot down (11 total)
April 27, 1917 - NW of Vitry-en-Artois - 1 Balloon shot down (12 total)
April 29, 1917 - East of Épinoy - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (13 total)
April 30, 1917 - South of Lens - Bishop survives an encounter with Jasta 11 and Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron. 1 aircraft shot down (14 total)
May 2, 1917 - East of Drocourt-Quéant line - Bishop receives the Distinguished Service Order for shooting down two DFW C.V. while being attacked by four others (16 total)
May 4, 1917 - W. of Brebières - 1 AEG shot down (17 total)
May 7, 1917 - Hénin-Liétard | S. of Brebières - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (19 total)
May 26, 1917 - Izel-lès-Équerchin - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (19½ total)
May 27, 1917 - Dourges - 1 Aviatik shot down (20½ total)
May 31, 1917 - Épinoy - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (21½ total)
June 2, 1917 - Esnes Airfield, near Cambrai - Bishop flies a solo mission behind enemy lines to attack a German-held aerodrome, where he claims that he shot down three Albatros that were taking off to attack him and destroyed several more on the ground. For this feat, he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), although it has been suggested that he may have embellished his success (24½ total)
June 8, 1917 - North of Lille - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (25½ total)
June 10, 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - Billy Bishop is awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on June 2nd
June 24, 1917 - N. of Beaumont - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (26½ total)
June 25, 1917 - Dury, E. of Arras - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (27½ total)
June 26, 1917 - Annay - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (29½ total)
June 28, 1917 - South of La Bassée - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (30½ total)
July 10, 1917 - Quiéry-la-Motte - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (31½ total)
July 12, 1917 - Vitry-en-Artois - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (32½ total)
July 17, 1917 - Havrincourt Wood | Marquion - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (35 total)
July 20, 1917 - SE of Havrincourt Wood - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (36 total)
July 28, 1917 - Phalempin - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (37 total)
July 29, 1917 - Beaumont - 1 aircraft shot down (38 total)
July 30(?), 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - 60 Squadron receives new Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5s, a faster and more powerful aircraft with better pilot visibility
August 5, 1917 - N. of Hendecourt-lès-Cagnicourt - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (40 total)
August 6, 1917 - NW of Brebières - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (41 total)
August 9, 1917 - N. of Écourt-St.-Quentin - 1 aircraft shot down (42 total)
August 11, 1917 - Buckingham Palace, London, England - Receives the Victoria Cross from King George V, one of two awarded in violation of the warrant requiring witnesses
August 13, 1917 - South of Douai - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (44 total)
August 15, 1917 - NE of Hénin-Liétard - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (45 total)
August 16, 1917 - NE of Harnes - 1 Albatros D.III and 1 Aviatik shot down (47 total)
August 18(?), 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - Bishop is removed by General Hugh M. Trenchard from operational flying because he was deemed too valuable to lose; he is sent to Canada to help in recruitment (47 total)
September(?) 1(?), 1917 - Liverpool, England - Departs to Canada
September 17, 1917 - Montreal, Quebec - Bishop arrives in Montreal and is greeted by a sea of thousands of people
September 18(?), 1917 - Toronto - Bishop arrives in Toronto
September 19(?), 1917 - Owen Sound - Returns home
September 31(?), 1917 - Beamsville, Ontario - Bishop is appointed as the Chief Instructor at the School of Aerial Gunnery and given the temporary rank of major
October 17, 1917 - Toronto - Marries Margaret Eaton Burden
November(?) 1(?), 1917 - Washington D.C. - After the wedding, he is assigned to the British War Mission in Washington, D.C. to help the Americans build an air force. While stationed there, he writes his autobiography entitled "Winged Warfare"
April 1(?), 1918 - Hounslow Heath - Returns to England - promoted to Major and given command of No. 85 Squadron, the "Flying Foxes"
May 22, 1918 - Petit Synthe, near Dunkirk, France - The squadron moves to Petit Synthe, France
May 27, 1918 - East of Passchendaele - After familiarizing himself with the area and the opposition, Bishop takes a solo flight to the Front. He downs a German observation plane in his first combat since August 1917. (48 total)
May 28, 1918 - SW of Courtemarck - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (50 total)
May 30, 1918 - Roulers | N. of Armentières - 2 Albatros D.III and another aircraft shot down (53 total)
May 31, 1918 - Quesnoy | SW of Lille - 2 Pfalz shot down (55 total)
June 1, 1918 - La Gorgue - 1 Pfalz shot down - german ace P. Billik (56 total)
June 2, 1918 - South of Armentières - 1 Pfalz shot down (57 total)
June 4, 1918 - 3 miles off coast between Nieuport and Ostend | Leffinghe - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (59 total)
June 15, 1918 - East of Estaires - 1 Pfalz shot down (60 total)
June 16, 1918 - Armentières | East of Armentières - 2 Pfalz shot down (62 total)
June 17, 1918 - Between Staden and Hooglede | Sailly-sur-la-Lys | Leventie - 1 Albatros D.III and 2 other aircraft shot down (65 total)
June 18, 1918 - NE of Ypres - Receives orders from the Canadian Government to return to England to help organize the new Canadian Flying Corps. Letter to his wife Margaret: "I've never been so furious in my life. It makes me livid with rage to be pulled away just as things are getting started". 2 Albatros shot down (67 total)
June 19, 1918 - East of Ploegsteert - The order specified that he was to leave France by noon on 19 June. On that morning, Bishop decides to fly one last solo patrol, patrolling between Neuve Eglise and Ploegsteert. In just 15 minutes of combat, he shoots down four Pfalz and another aircraft. He claimed to have downed two Pfalz D.IIIa scout planes, caused another two to collide with each other, and shot down a German reconnaissance aircraft. (72 total)
June 20, 1918 - Boulogne, France - 85 Squadron members drive Bishop to Boulogne to say goodbye
June 21(?), 1918 - London, England - Bishop arrives in London
August 3, 1918 - London, England - Bishop receives the Distinguished Flying Cross
August 5, 1918 - London - Bishop is promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and is given the post of "Officer Commanding-designate of the Canadian Air Force Section of the General Staff, Headquarters Overseas Military Forces of Canada"
November 11, 1918 - North Atlantic Ocean - On board a ship returning from a reporting visit to Canada when news of the armistice arrive
December 19, 1918 - London, England - Bishop applies for and is granted a one-year leave of absence with permission to wear the uniform, for a lecture tour he will undertake under private contract in the United States. His leave is to begin on January 1, 1919
December 31, 1918 - London, England - Bishop is discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 31 December and returns to Canada
February 14, 1919 - New York City - Lecture on aerial warfare over Flanders Fields at the Carnegie Hall
March 19, 1919 - Roanoke, Virginia - Bishop collapses on stage while speaking at Roanoke. Later that day, an excerpt from the "Ottawa Evening Journal" indicates that Bishop is recovering from an operation and has to abandon his post-war lecture tour
November 1(?), 1919 - Montreal, Quebec - Bishop takes Hubert Fauntleroy Julian for a ride in a Sopwith Camel
January(?) 1(?), 1920 - Toronto - Bishop and a fellow VC winner, pilot and ace, William George Barker, purchase 3 seaplanes and provide passenger service between Toronto and Muskoka
August 26, 1920 - Toronto - Stunt flying at the 1920 Canadian National Exhibition (until September 9th)
June 1, 1921 - Toronto - Attends the marriage of his comrade-in-arms William George Barker to his cousin Jean Smith
December 1, 1921 - London, England - Bishop and family move to London, where he starts working as a salesman for his friend Gordon Perry's company
June 13, 1923 - London - Son William Arthur Christian Avery Bishop is born
February 10, 1926 - New York City - Eddie Rickenbacker, leading ace of the United States with 26 victories, meets Bishop aboard the steamship "Berengaria" as she arrives in New York
February 15, 1926 - While in New York - Daughter Margaret Marise Willis-O'Connor is born in London
March 1(?), 1928 - Berlin, Germany - Guest of honour at a gathering of German air aces in Berlin and was made an Honorary Member of the Association
November(?) 1(?), 1929 - London, England - The family's wealth is wiped out in the crash of 1929
January(?) 1(?), 1930 - Toronto - Moves back to Canada, where he becomes vice-president of the McColl-Frontenac Oil Company
January 15, 1930 - Toronto - Attends the funeral of his comrade-in-arms William George Barker
January 1(?), 1936 - Toronto - Bishop was appointed the first Canadian air vice-marshal
August 10, 1938 - Toronto - Bishop takes an advisory role in the fledging Royal Canadian Air Force with the honorary rank of air vice-marshal
March 1(?), 1939 - Washington D.C. - Leaves the White House and begins recruiting those who would assist in the creation of a substantial screening and recruitment plan that would bring americans into the RCAF
September 11(?), 1939 - New York City - Bishop and former comrades-in-arms Clayton Knight and Homer Smith, book a room at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel to act as recruiting headquarters
October(?) 1(?), 1939 - Toronto - Shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939, he is promoted to the rank of Air marshal in the Royal Canadian Air Force
January 23, 1940 - Toronto - Appointed as Director of Recruiting, RCAF
December 30, 1941 - Ottawa - Brings Winston Churchill to his house for drinks after both had had dinner with Prime-Minister Mackenzie King at Laurier House
April 5, 1943 - Uplands, Ottawa, Ontario - Filming of "Captains of the Clouds": During a
parade, Bishop, playing himself, presents wings to real graduates of No.2 service flying training school
August 20, 1943 - Montreal, Quebec - Flies with Guy Gibson (VC) from Quebec to Montreal
January(?) 1(?), 1944 - Montreal - Resigns his post in the RCAF to return to private enterprise in Montreal, Quebec
June 1, 1944 - Toronto - He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the King's Birthday Honours List
January(?) 1(?), 1945 - Montreal - Returns to his position as vice-president of Texaco Oil in Montreal
January(?) 1(?), 1952 - West Palm Beach, Florida - Retires. Begins spending his winters in West Palm Beach, Florida
September 11, 1956 - West Palm Beach, Florida - "Billy" Bishop dies in his sleep, aged 62 =(END)
January 18, 1916 - Rouen - Arrives in a little hotel in Rouen, after a rough sea voyage
January 23, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - The squadron arrives at Boisdinghem airfield, near Saint-Omer, equipped with R.E.7 reconnaissance aircraft
January 29, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - Artillery-spotting sortie with Lieutenant Hunt
February 8, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - Bishop's plane is attacked by german Fokkers
February 9, 1916 - St.Omer - Admitted to No.10 Stationary Hospital in St.Omer, for slight frostbite to his face
March 9, 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - Bombing raid behind german lines with other 5 F.E.7s from 21 Squadron
April 1(?), 1916 - Boisdinghem airfield, W. of Saint-Omer - During one take off, his aircraft engine fails and he badly injures his kneeMay 2, 1916 - Folkestone, England - His knee injury is aggravated when he falls on the concrete pier while disembarking from the channel boat from Boulogne
May 11, 1916 - London, England - Bishop is hospitalized in Bryanston Square Hospital
May 26, 1916 - London - At the hospital, Bishop meets Lady St.Hellier, a fashionably rich and politically influential widow who saw it as her patriotic duty to visit convalescent servicemen
June(?) 1(?), 1916 - Plymouth(?) - After his father suffers a small stroke, Bishop is allowed to recuperate in Canada with the help of Lady St.Hellier, missing the Battle of the Somme, where his squadron is decimated
June(?) 15(?), 1916 - Halifax, Nova Scotia - Bishop arrives in Halifax
June(?) 20(?), 1916 - Montreal, Quebec - Passing by Montreal on his way to Toronto
June(?) 21(?), 1916 - Toronto - Bishop arrives in Toronto
June(?) 22(?), 1916 - Owen Sound - Bishop returns home on leave
August(?) 15(?), 1916 - Halifax, Nova Scotia - Departs to England
August(?) 30(?), 1916 - Plymouth, England(?) - Bishop reaches Plymouth (speculative date and place)
September 1(?), 1916 - London, England - Returns to England, where he is repeatedly rejected as medically unfit
October 1, 1916 - Oxford, England - Bishop reports to Brasenose College at the University of Oxford to begin a four-week course of ground-school training
November 1, 1916 - Upavon, Salisbury Plain - With the influence of Lady St.Hellier, is accepted for training as a pilot at the Central Flying School at Upavon
November 4, 1916 - Upavon, Salisbury Plain - First solo flight - 30 minutes
November 15, 1916 - Sutton's Farm, Essex - Bishop receives his wings and is attacked to No.37 Squadron RFC at Sutton's Farm, Essex, flying the BE.2c
December 8, 1916 - Sutton's Farm, Essex - Appointed to flying officer duties
January(?) 1(?), 1917(?) - Sutton's Farm, Essex - Bishop dislikes flying at night over London, searching for German airships, and he soon requests a transfer to France
March 17, 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - Bishop arrives at 60 Squadron at Filescamp Farm near Arras, to fly the Nieuport 17 fighter
March 22, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - First patrol - He has trouble controlling his run-down aircraft, is nearly shot down by anti-aircraft fire, becoming separated from his group
March 24, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - After crash-landing his aircraft during a practice flight in front of General John Higgins, Bishop is ordered to return to flight school at Upavon. Major Alan Scott, the new commander of 60 Squadron, convinces Higgins to let him stay until a replacement arrives
March 25, 1917 - near St.Leger - Four Nieuports (including Bishop's) engage three Albatros D.III Scouts near St Leger. Bishop shoots down one of them but his engine fails in the process. He lands 270 meters from the german front line. After running to the allied trenches, Bishop spends the night in a rainstorm. He writes a letter home: "I am writing this from a dugout 300 yards from our front line, after the most exciting adventure of my life". General Higgins congratulates him and rescinds his order to return to flight School. (1 total)
March 30, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - Bishop is named Flight Commander
March 31, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (2 total)
April 7, 1917 - Filescamp Farm - 1 Albatros D.III and one balloon shot down (4 total)
April 8, 1917 - between Douai and Flesquières | NE of Arras | near Vitry-en-Artois - Bishop shoots down another Albatros D.III and two other aircraft (7 total) - Bishop has the cowling of his Nieuport painted blue, to identify him as an ace
April 13(?), 1917 - Filescamp Farm - Military Cross for his participation in the Battle of Vimy Ridge
April 20, 1917 - over Bianche-Saint-Vaast - 1 Aviatik shot down (8 total)
April 22, 1917 - over Vis-en-Artois - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (9 total)
April 23, 1917 - between Vitry-en-Artois and Évin-Malmaison - 1 Albatros D.III and another aircraft shot down (11 total)
April 27, 1917 - NW of Vitry-en-Artois - 1 Balloon shot down (12 total)
April 29, 1917 - East of Épinoy - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (13 total)
April 30, 1917 - South of Lens - Bishop survives an encounter with Jasta 11 and Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron. 1 aircraft shot down (14 total)
May 2, 1917 - East of Drocourt-Quéant line - Bishop receives the Distinguished Service Order for shooting down two DFW C.V. while being attacked by four others (16 total)
May 4, 1917 - W. of Brebières - 1 AEG shot down (17 total)
May 7, 1917 - Hénin-Liétard | S. of Brebières - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (19 total)
May 26, 1917 - Izel-lès-Équerchin - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (19½ total)
May 27, 1917 - Dourges - 1 Aviatik shot down (20½ total)
May 31, 1917 - Épinoy - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (21½ total)
June 8, 1917 - North of Lille - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (25½ total)
June 10, 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - Billy Bishop is awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on June 2nd
June 24, 1917 - N. of Beaumont - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (26½ total)
June 25, 1917 - Dury, E. of Arras - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (27½ total)
June 26, 1917 - Annay - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (29½ total)
June 28, 1917 - South of La Bassée - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (30½ total)
July 10, 1917 - Quiéry-la-Motte - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (31½ total)
July 12, 1917 - Vitry-en-Artois - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (32½ total)
July 17, 1917 - Havrincourt Wood | Marquion - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (35 total)
July 20, 1917 - SE of Havrincourt Wood - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (36 total)
July 28, 1917 - Phalempin - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (37 total)
July 29, 1917 - Beaumont - 1 aircraft shot down (38 total)
July 30(?), 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - 60 Squadron receives new Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5s, a faster and more powerful aircraft with better pilot visibility
August 5, 1917 - N. of Hendecourt-lès-Cagnicourt - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (40 total)
August 6, 1917 - NW of Brebières - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (41 total)
August 9, 1917 - N. of Écourt-St.-Quentin - 1 aircraft shot down (42 total)
August 11, 1917 - Buckingham Palace, London, England - Receives the Victoria Cross from King George V, one of two awarded in violation of the warrant requiring witnesses
August 13, 1917 - South of Douai - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (44 total)
August 15, 1917 - NE of Hénin-Liétard - 1 Albatros D.III shot down (45 total)
August 16, 1917 - NE of Harnes - 1 Albatros D.III and 1 Aviatik shot down (47 total)
August 18(?), 1917 - Filescamp Farm, (Eastern part of Le Hameau),W. of Arras - Bishop is removed by General Hugh M. Trenchard from operational flying because he was deemed too valuable to lose; he is sent to Canada to help in recruitment (47 total)
September(?) 1(?), 1917 - Liverpool, England - Departs to Canada
September 17, 1917 - Montreal, Quebec - Bishop arrives in Montreal and is greeted by a sea of thousands of people
September 18(?), 1917 - Toronto - Bishop arrives in Toronto
September 19(?), 1917 - Owen Sound - Returns home
September 31(?), 1917 - Beamsville, Ontario - Bishop is appointed as the Chief Instructor at the School of Aerial Gunnery and given the temporary rank of major
October 17, 1917 - Toronto - Marries Margaret Eaton Burden
November(?) 1(?), 1917 - Washington D.C. - After the wedding, he is assigned to the British War Mission in Washington, D.C. to help the Americans build an air force. While stationed there, he writes his autobiography entitled "Winged Warfare"
April 1(?), 1918 - Hounslow Heath - Returns to England - promoted to Major and given command of No. 85 Squadron, the "Flying Foxes"
May 22, 1918 - Petit Synthe, near Dunkirk, France - The squadron moves to Petit Synthe, France
May 27, 1918 - East of Passchendaele - After familiarizing himself with the area and the opposition, Bishop takes a solo flight to the Front. He downs a German observation plane in his first combat since August 1917. (48 total)
May 28, 1918 - SW of Courtemarck - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (50 total)
May 30, 1918 - Roulers | N. of Armentières - 2 Albatros D.III and another aircraft shot down (53 total)
May 31, 1918 - Quesnoy | SW of Lille - 2 Pfalz shot down (55 total)
June 1, 1918 - La Gorgue - 1 Pfalz shot down - german ace P. Billik (56 total)
June 2, 1918 - South of Armentières - 1 Pfalz shot down (57 total)
June 4, 1918 - 3 miles off coast between Nieuport and Ostend | Leffinghe - 2 Albatros D.III shot down (59 total)
June 15, 1918 - East of Estaires - 1 Pfalz shot down (60 total)
June 16, 1918 - Armentières | East of Armentières - 2 Pfalz shot down (62 total)
June 17, 1918 - Between Staden and Hooglede | Sailly-sur-la-Lys | Leventie - 1 Albatros D.III and 2 other aircraft shot down (65 total)
June 18, 1918 - NE of Ypres - Receives orders from the Canadian Government to return to England to help organize the new Canadian Flying Corps. Letter to his wife Margaret: "I've never been so furious in my life. It makes me livid with rage to be pulled away just as things are getting started". 2 Albatros shot down (67 total)
June 19, 1918 - East of Ploegsteert - The order specified that he was to leave France by noon on 19 June. On that morning, Bishop decides to fly one last solo patrol, patrolling between Neuve Eglise and Ploegsteert. In just 15 minutes of combat, he shoots down four Pfalz and another aircraft. He claimed to have downed two Pfalz D.IIIa scout planes, caused another two to collide with each other, and shot down a German reconnaissance aircraft. (72 total)
June 20, 1918 - Boulogne, France - 85 Squadron members drive Bishop to Boulogne to say goodbye
June 21(?), 1918 - London, England - Bishop arrives in London
August 3, 1918 - London, England - Bishop receives the Distinguished Flying Cross
August 5, 1918 - London - Bishop is promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and is given the post of "Officer Commanding-designate of the Canadian Air Force Section of the General Staff, Headquarters Overseas Military Forces of Canada"
November 11, 1918 - North Atlantic Ocean - On board a ship returning from a reporting visit to Canada when news of the armistice arrive
December 19, 1918 - London, England - Bishop applies for and is granted a one-year leave of absence with permission to wear the uniform, for a lecture tour he will undertake under private contract in the United States. His leave is to begin on January 1, 1919
December 31, 1918 - London, England - Bishop is discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 31 December and returns to Canada
February 14, 1919 - New York City - Lecture on aerial warfare over Flanders Fields at the Carnegie Hall
March 19, 1919 - Roanoke, Virginia - Bishop collapses on stage while speaking at Roanoke. Later that day, an excerpt from the "Ottawa Evening Journal" indicates that Bishop is recovering from an operation and has to abandon his post-war lecture tour
November 1(?), 1919 - Montreal, Quebec - Bishop takes Hubert Fauntleroy Julian for a ride in a Sopwith Camel
January(?) 1(?), 1920 - Toronto - Bishop and a fellow VC winner, pilot and ace, William George Barker, purchase 3 seaplanes and provide passenger service between Toronto and Muskoka
August 26, 1920 - Toronto - Stunt flying at the 1920 Canadian National Exhibition (until September 9th)
June 1, 1921 - Toronto - Attends the marriage of his comrade-in-arms William George Barker to his cousin Jean Smith
December 1, 1921 - London, England - Bishop and family move to London, where he starts working as a salesman for his friend Gordon Perry's company
June 13, 1923 - London - Son William Arthur Christian Avery Bishop is born
February 10, 1926 - New York City - Eddie Rickenbacker, leading ace of the United States with 26 victories, meets Bishop aboard the steamship "Berengaria" as she arrives in New York
February 15, 1926 - While in New York - Daughter Margaret Marise Willis-O'Connor is born in London
March 1(?), 1928 - Berlin, Germany - Guest of honour at a gathering of German air aces in Berlin and was made an Honorary Member of the Association
November(?) 1(?), 1929 - London, England - The family's wealth is wiped out in the crash of 1929
January(?) 1(?), 1930 - Toronto - Moves back to Canada, where he becomes vice-president of the McColl-Frontenac Oil Company
January 15, 1930 - Toronto - Attends the funeral of his comrade-in-arms William George Barker
January 1(?), 1936 - Toronto - Bishop was appointed the first Canadian air vice-marshal
August 10, 1938 - Toronto - Bishop takes an advisory role in the fledging Royal Canadian Air Force with the honorary rank of air vice-marshal
March 1(?), 1939 - Washington D.C. - Leaves the White House and begins recruiting those who would assist in the creation of a substantial screening and recruitment plan that would bring americans into the RCAF
September 11(?), 1939 - New York City - Bishop and former comrades-in-arms Clayton Knight and Homer Smith, book a room at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel to act as recruiting headquarters
October(?) 1(?), 1939 - Toronto - Shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939, he is promoted to the rank of Air marshal in the Royal Canadian Air Force
January 23, 1940 - Toronto - Appointed as Director of Recruiting, RCAF
December 30, 1941 - Ottawa - Brings Winston Churchill to his house for drinks after both had had dinner with Prime-Minister Mackenzie King at Laurier House
April 5, 1943 - Uplands, Ottawa, Ontario - Filming of "Captains of the Clouds": During a
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| Billy Bishop, April 5th, 1943 "Captains of the Clouds" |
August 20, 1943 - Montreal, Quebec - Flies with Guy Gibson (VC) from Quebec to Montreal
January(?) 1(?), 1944 - Montreal - Resigns his post in the RCAF to return to private enterprise in Montreal, Quebec
June 1, 1944 - Toronto - He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the King's Birthday Honours List
January(?) 1(?), 1945 - Montreal - Returns to his position as vice-president of Texaco Oil in Montreal
January(?) 1(?), 1952 - West Palm Beach, Florida - Retires. Begins spending his winters in West Palm Beach, Florida
September 11, 1956 - West Palm Beach, Florida - "Billy" Bishop dies in his sleep, aged 62 =(END)
Aníbal Milhais or Soldier Millions is really an icon of the Portuguese participation in the WW I. This evocation was a good idea.
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