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<em>Cleo Merton Bishop</em> was born 13 Sep 1917 in Kingman, ME, the son of Robert and Rae Larlee Bishop. He had a sister Iva and a broth­er Charles ’53. The son of a carpenter who had to move to where there was work, Cleo grew up in several small Maine towns, finally settling in Guilford, ME. His dad instilled in him the values of responsibility, honesty, and hard work. His father was killed in an acci­dent when Cleo was still a teenager, so he had to become the man in his family. He worked, delivered papers, was a Boy Scout, and was active in fishing, hunting, and sports. He was an outstanding student and graduated from Guilford High School in 1935.</p>
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He enlisted in the Army in 1936 and in three years rose to the grade of Sergeant—the youngest in the U.S. Army (according to the Army’s recruiting news). As a plebe, he was “invited” to memorize and recite this article on call after earning an army appointment to the Academy in July 1939. At West Point, “Bish” (as he was known to all except fam­ily) was conspicuous as the Cadet Company clerk for three years. He competed and earned letters in pistol marksmanship and track and was a cadet corporal before choos­ing to become an Air Cadet his first class year. During plebe year, he met his “one and only,” Dorothy “Dottie” Reilly of Highland Falls, NY. Soon they became engaged and mar­ried immediately after graduation in January 1943 (the second couple to get married that day). They would enjoy a happy, loving 30-year marriage and raise four children: Robert, Susan, David, and Thomas.</p>
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While still a cadet, Bish completed pri­mary flight training at Stewart Field, NY. Proudly wearing his pilot wings, he returned to West Point in the fall of 1942 to complete academics. In January 1943 he graduated in the top quartile and was commissioned in the Army Air Corps. His first assignment was basic flight training in Moultrie, GA, where he became a fighter pilot flying the P-40 Warhawk. He then went on to Richmond and Norfolk for advanced flight training in the famed P-47 Thunderbolt.</p>
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During World War II, Bish began a dis­tinguished career in early 1944 flying P-51 Mustangs in the 52nd Squadron, Fifteenth Air Force, in the Mediterranean Theater, sta­tioned in Italy. He flew escort missions on the famous Ploiesti oil field raids, but many of his missions involved strafing enemy troops and materiel. Over Hungary in November 1944, his P-51 was shot down and crashed, wound­ing him seriously, with considerable loss of blood. He freed himself from the wreck­age, however, escaping and evading capture for about 10 miles before being overtaken by German forces. He remained a German POW to the end of the war.</p>
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Upon liberation in 1945, he returned to the States for medical attention and a happy reunion with his family. He met his son Robert, who had been born while Bish was a POW. Assigned to Continental Air Command at Mitchell Field, NY, he next earned a master’s degree from New York University and was assigned to HQ USAF in the Directorate of Flying Safety. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he commanded the 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron flying F-84Gs out of Woodbridge, England, 1952–55. During 1956–60, he was assigned to Headquarters, Ninth Air Force, Shaw AFB, SC, as an opera­tions staff officer. In 1960, he was assigned to the Directorate of Operations in Washington, DC. Promoted to colonel, in 1964 he gradu­ated from the National War College, also earning his second master’s degree, this time in International Relations from George Washington University.</p>
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In 1964, Bish was vice commander of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing in Bitburg AFB, Germany, flying F-105s initially and later converting to F-4s. He then served as the Director of Safety at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force-Europe in Wiesbaden, Germany. From April to August 1967, he was the vice com­mander of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat AFB, Thailand, flying combat mis­sions over North Viet Nam in F-105s. He was then assigned to Headquarters, Seventh Air Force, in Saigon, South Viet Nam.</p>
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In October 1967, he took command of the 831st Air Division, flying F-4s out of George AFB, CA. In 1968, he was promoted to brigadier general as deputy commander of the Fifth Allied Tactical Air Force, NATO, in Vicenza, Italy. In 1970, Bish returned to the States to Headquarters, Tactical Air Command at Langley AFB, VA, as Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations.</p>
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During Bish’s distinguished military career, he was a command pilot with more than 4,200 flying hours, including 126 combat hours in World War II and the Viet Nam conflict. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, six Air Medals, and the Purple Heart.</p>
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After retiring in January 1972, he and Dottie moved to Fort Walton Beach, FL. Sadly, after 30 years as a military wife, Dottie passed away from cancer a few short months later. Bish was blessed to meet and love a sec­ond wonderful woman. He and Mary Ann Haugh were married in November 1973. His second family included four stepdaughters: Candice, Gail, Sharon, and Diane. They enjoyed a happy 33 years together. Bish pur­sued a second career of 10 years on the staff of the Florida State Employment Service as a Veterans’ Employment Representative. He enjoyed fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and was a member of the Fort Walton Sail and Power Squadron, instructing boating and navigation courses.</p>
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Bish passed away from complications fol­lowing surgery on 22 Jul 2006. He was pre­ceded in death by his first wife, Dottie, and by his first son, Robert. He is survived by Mary Ann plus seven children, eleven grand­children, and eight great-grandchildren. He was a cherished son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He was loved deeply by his family, respected by colleagues, and missed by all who knew him. As a West Pointer, Bish lived a life of Duty, Honor, Country. As John Gillespie Magee wrote, Bish, the fighter pilot, has “slipped the surly bonds of earth and reached out his hand and touched the face of God.”</p>
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