Billy Bishop Park

This memorial park was erected by the city of Ottawa assisted by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 638 (Kanata), and is dedicated to Air Marshal William Avery Bishop, V.C., C.B., D.S.O. & Bar, M.C., D.F.C., E.D., R.C.A.F.

[plaque/plaque]

[text on left/texte à gauche]

William "Billy" Bishop was born on February 8, 1894 in Owen Sound, Ontario. At
the outbreak of the first World War, Bishop was a cadet at the Royal Military
College in Kingston and eventually enlisted with the 9th Mississauga
Horse, Canadian Expedition Force, on September 30, 1914. He later
transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and would receive many
decorations. He was the first Canadian Airman to be awarded the
Victoria Cross for his actions during an early morning attack on
an enemy airfield near Cambrai, France on June 2, 1917. Flying
a solo mission behind enemy lines, and against all odds, Bishop
destroyed seven aircrafts stationed at an enemy aerodrome. By
the end of the first World War, Bishop had a score of 72 aces
which made him the British Empire's second highest scoring ace.

During World War II, Bishop was assigned Air marshall with
the Royal Canadian Air Force and assisted with recruiting. After
several years of ill health, Bishop died on September 11, 1956 in
Palm Beach, Florida and was laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in
Owen Sound, Ontario.

[text on right/texte à droite]

William « Bishop » est né le 8 février 1894 à Owen Sound, Ontario. Lorsque
la Première Guerre mondiale éclata, Bishop était élève-officier au Collège
militaire royal de kingston. Le 30 septembre 1914, il se joignit au 9th
Mississauga Horse du Corps expéditionnaire canadien, passé par
la suite au Royal Flying Corps, il allait y recevoir de nombreuses
décorations. Il fut le premier aviateur canadien à se voir décerner
la Croix de Victoria, qu`il reçut pour les gestes qu`il posa au cours
d`une attawue menée le 2 juin 1917 tôt le matin sur un terrain
d`aviation ennemi, près de Cambrai, en France. Effectuant une
mission en solitaire derrière les lignes ennemies alors que tout
était contre lui, Bishop détruisit sept avions stationnés sur un
aérodrome. À la fin de la Première Guerre mondiale, Bishop
comptait 72 victoires répertoriées, arrivant au deuxième rang
des as de l`Empire britannique.

Pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, Bishop fut maréchal de
l`air dans l`Aviation royale du Canada et contribua au recrutement.
Il mourut le 11 septembre 1956 à palm Beach (Floride), après avoir
lutté contre la maladie pendant plusieurs années. Il repose au cimetière
Greenwood d`Owen Sound (Ontario)


[bottom left corner/en bas coin gauche]

(crest of the Royal Canadian Legion/insigne de la Légion Royale Canadienne)
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION
Kanata Branch 638

[centre/au centre]

Air Marshal William Avery Bishop
VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED, RCAF

[right corner/coin droit]

Ottawa

[park sign/pancarte de parc]

Billy Bishop
Park