Description:

Bishop William

Billy Bishop, WWI Canadian flying ace, TLS 3 months after Armistice


TLS on 8.375" x 4.625" paper half-sheet signed by decorated World War I aviator William A. Bishop (1894-1956) as "WABishop." Laid down on larger cream scrapbook page, with expected wear including folds and repaired tears. Nice signature, and extensively annotated by autograph collector in lower left corner. Second autograph partially visible underneath this TLS, and also including the autograph of Massachusetts Senator and judge Rufus Choate (1799-1859) verso.


On February 14, 1919, Canadian war veteran Billy Bishop sent his autograph to "Mrs. Albert E. Taylor, Cos Cob, Conn." for inclusion in her "exceptionally wonderful" autograph collection. Bishop's tone is remarkably modest, and not quite what you'd expect from a recipient of the Victoria Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, and many other wartime honors. "I feel that you are doing me a great favor in asking me for it to put in your collection," Bishop wrote Mrs. Taylor.


Billy Bishop enlisted in 1914 and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915. Bishop proved a clumsy beginner pilot, but soon distinguished himself by staging daring airborne raids and surprise attacks. He is officially credited with downing 72 enemy aircraft and attacking a German aerodrome. The English Red Baron was called "Hell's Handmaiden" by wary Germans.


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