NAMESAKE HONOURED IN HISTORICAL INSTALLATION
Statues, replica aircraft and displays pay tribute to Canadian flying ace Billy Bishop and his contemporary and friend William Barker
Travellers using the new pedestrian tunnel to access the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will be whisked from the elevators in the mainland pavilion, through the 853-foot tunnel and up one of Canada’s longest stretches of escalators to arrive at the island-side atrium leading to the terminal’s arrival and departure areas. Although the very nature of airport travel is usually one of rushing from point A to point B, many travellers will find themselves drawn to the unique historical elements and artifacts that have been assembled along the way.
The airport on Toronto Island opened more than 75 years ago as the Port George VI Island Airport. In 2009, it was renamed Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport after Canada’s best known flying ace, and a recipient of the Victoria Cross. So it is only fitting that one of the first things travellers will see upon entering the mainland pavilion that leads to the tunnel is a life-size bronze statue of William Avery “Billy” Bishop. Bishop is not alone in the pavilion and stands alongside another of Canada’s greatest war heroes and flying aces, William George Barker.
Their connection to the waterfront is strong: In 1919, upon returning from The Great War, Barker and Bishop ran a flying boat operation out of Toronto Harbour for a period of time. During World War II, Bishop flew out of Port George VI Island Airport and held military recruiting events at the current airport site. After the Second World War, he and his son Arthur Bishop, who was also a fighter pilot, flew Spitfires and other military aircraft into the airport.
George Bartholomew Boileau, a former professor of sculpture and installation at Toronto’s OCAD University, created the two statues, which he says depict the historic first meeting between the two aces. Although the exact date of the meeting is unknown, it is said to have taken place in early 1919 when Barker was recovering in a London hospital from injuries suffered in his aerial battle of October 27, 1918.
“Researching Billy Bishop and William Barker was nothing short of fascinating. These were extraordinary men in a very unique time … the birth of aviation,” Boileau said. “Through their expressions and stances, you can see that Bishop was the more flamboyant of the two, with seemingly boundless confidence. Barker was perhaps more ‘properly’ military, possibly because he worked his way up to squadron commander from very humble origins.”
Once Boileau completed the original sculptures, the artists at Artcast Inc. began the complex process of creating a bronze cast using the lost-wax process – a technique that goes back 5,700 years. This practice allows for a metal reproduction of the sculptures preserving the sculptor’s intricate details. The resulting bronze statues serve as a striking tribute to the pilots and a focal point of the historical elements throughout.
As travellers make their way through the tunnel from the mainland, and ascend the escalators to the atrium, they will be greeted by a life-size model of a Nieuport 17 suspended from the ceiling. This is an exact replica of the aircraft flown by Bishop on June 2, 1917, when, venturing behind enemy lines, he encountered and attacked a German airfield. For this heroic flight in his Nieuport 17, Bishop was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valour “in the face of the enemy” to members of the armed forces of Commonwealth countries.
With a wingspan of more than 26 feet and measuring more than 18 feet in length, the model took 1,200 hours to build and replicates every detail of the Nieuport 17 that Bishop piloted. The aircraft’s blue nose is the mark of a flying ace, indicating five or more victories in battle. The model was built in Holden, Missouri, and according to builder Airdrome Aeroplanes, would be fully operational if an engine were installed.
The atrium also features an exhibit dedicated to Bishop with display cases featuring artifacts and memorabilia, along with a photographic retrospective that doubles as a seating area.
“The historical elements and displays that have been placed in the pavilion and atrium connected to the tunnel will surely bring enjoyment to those who are already familiar with Canada’s rich aviation history. For others, who may not be as aware of the contribution Canadians such as Bishop and Barker made to the war effort and the development of a strong national aviation sector, we hope this collection serves to educate our passengers and their families,” said Mark McQueen, Chairman, PortsToronto. “The historical elements and features pay homage to two of Canada’s most decorated war heroes, but are also meant to toast all of the men and women who have served Canada, both here and abroad, in the decades that have followed. We hope Torontonians and our visitors enjoy this tribute.”