
The Making of Billy Bishop
The First World War Exploits of Billy Bishop, VC
Brereton Greenhous(Author)
Dundurn Group Ltd (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 13. June 2002
Book
Paperback/Softback
232 pages
978-1-55002-390-9 (ISBN)
Description
It's a war story that is told every time the career of Billy Bishop is discussed: On June 2, 1917, the young pilot single-handedly took out a German airfield in an early morning raid at the height of the Great War. For this, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, and a place in Canadian history.
And yet, the attack never happened.
In this explosive new biography, Brereton Greehous exposes the myth of Billy Bishop. While his bravery never comes into question (Bishop was as courageous as any of the men who risked their lives in those early warplanes) his credibility as a storyteller does. From exaggerations and half-truths to flat-out lies, stories of Bishop's legendary exploits contain as much fiction as they do fact.
Greenhous reveals many startling truths: he presents evidence that some of the medals Bishop wore late in his career were unearned, uncovers a number of examples of Bishop embellishing or inventing combat stories, and, most significantly, shows that the only account of the ace's raid on the German airfield came from Bishop himself. Even official German records of casualties fail to corroborate the Canadian's claims.
The Making of Billy Bishop is a book certain to stir up controversy. Twenty years ago, a documentary film questioning Bishop's credentials as a hero was considered so blasphemous that a senate investigation was launched in an attempt to restore the pilot's name. Now, Greenhous's research vindicates the claims of the filmmakers, and re-ignites an argument once thought settled.
And yet, the attack never happened.
In this explosive new biography, Brereton Greehous exposes the myth of Billy Bishop. While his bravery never comes into question (Bishop was as courageous as any of the men who risked their lives in those early warplanes) his credibility as a storyteller does. From exaggerations and half-truths to flat-out lies, stories of Bishop's legendary exploits contain as much fiction as they do fact.
Greenhous reveals many startling truths: he presents evidence that some of the medals Bishop wore late in his career were unearned, uncovers a number of examples of Bishop embellishing or inventing combat stories, and, most significantly, shows that the only account of the ace's raid on the German airfield came from Bishop himself. Even official German records of casualties fail to corroborate the Canadian's claims.
The Making of Billy Bishop is a book certain to stir up controversy. Twenty years ago, a documentary film questioning Bishop's credentials as a hero was considered so blasphemous that a senate investigation was launched in an attempt to restore the pilot's name. Now, Greenhous's research vindicates the claims of the filmmakers, and re-ignites an argument once thought settled.
Reviews / Votes
"Greenhous has certainly challenged past interpretations, and in so doing provided a very controversial view of one of Canada's legendary heroes." -Dr. Allan English, Canadian Military Journal, Autumn, 2002 "Greenhous does a good job of outlining the sociology of Bishop's rise to fame." -- Wayne Ralph * CBC Radio * "... the book is a good read. It raises some interesting questions and introduces a different interpretation of the actions of one of our nation's heroes." -- Steven Dieter * Canadian Military History Book Review *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
20 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
357 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-55002-390-9 (9781550023909)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2002
1st Edition
Dundurn Press
€9.49
Available for download

E-Book
05/2002
1st Edition
Dundurn
€27.89
Available for download
Person
Brereton Greenhous worked for twenty-five years in the Department of National Defence's Directorate of History. He has authored, co-authored, or edited a dozen books on Canadian military history, including Out of the Shadows: Canada in the Second World War and "C" Force to Hong Kong: A Canadian Catastrophe, 1941-1945.