Billy Bishop downed 72 enemy aircraft in a six month period between February and August of 1917 During
Bloody April of 1917 the Germans had a field day with their guns firing through the propeller at inferior planes. Billy Bishop was flying a French biplane the Nieuport Scout that had a machine gun that fired from the top wing over the propeller. the plane was noted for shedding its wings during a dive. Billy took care of the gun himself and personally tested every round of ammunition, he became a master at fixing stopages in the air and spent hours droping cans from his plane and then shooting them to pieces as they fell. He showed no fear and stalked the enemy head on. England would not let him continue his Hun hating to allow him to become the top fighter pilot in the first world war. He had a substantially inferior plane compared to the enemy during his time on the front and his excellence should not be denied.
Cheers
Ken McKenzie
www.starapex.com