Foil: 14 Panel: Retired United Pilots Association Column: 3 Line: 58

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

David Bishop was born February 20, 1924 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He entered the military in World War II at the age of 18, took the Aviation Cadet exam and passed. Was classified as a pilot and sent to the western flying training command. He graduated from Cadets 22 June 1943, was rated a pilot and commissioned a Second Lieutenant.

He was trained as a B-17 pilot and was sent to Central Instructors' School for B-17 instructor pilots. He was trained on the B-29, was qualified as copilot and flight engineer, and was headed for phase training when the war ended.

Dave left the service in November 1945 and attended Texas A & M College for two years before returning to the service. He was assigned to a bomb group at Rapid City, South Dakota, then sent to the Far East Air Force. On his way there he was detoured to Great Falls, Montana for the Little Vittles Program. Upon graduation from this he was sent to Frankfort, Germany where he spent 6 months on the Berlin Airlift making 121 round trips to Templehof Airport carrying mostly coal or flour.

Upon separation from the service January 1950, he went to work for Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft Corp. where he stayed until January 1952.

He applied to United Airlines for a flying position and was hired 2 January 1952. While with United he flew the DC 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, the Boeing 727 and the DC 10. He retired February 1984 after 32 years with a total flight time of 25,000 hours.