Bill Barker was the “greatest fighter pilot the world had ever known,” according to fellow Canadian ace Billy Bishop. Barker was also the hero of one of the more miraculous air battles of World War I.

With 47 airplane and nine balloon victories under his belt, Barker was returning to England to train pilots. On October 27, 1918, flying solo over Austria in his little Sopwith Snipe, he spied a Rumpler and destroyed it. Not until a bullet from a Fokker D.VII above him had shattered his right thigh did he see the swarm of 60 Fokkers he had chanced upon. Barker’s more maneuverable Snipe managed to take down two more German aircraft, but not before another bullet tore through his left thigh. Losing altitude and nearly unconscious, he lost control of his plane, falling several thousand feet more before regaining control. Convinced he would soon die, Barker squeezed his machine gun trigger, planning to ram one final target. His barrage of bullets disintegrated the Fokker before impact, but his left elbow had been shot away. He fainted, awakened, and downed a fifth enemy plane. Miraculously, Barker managed to outrun his pursuers to reach British lines and land, crippled but alive.

Bill Barker was awarded the Victoria Cross for this exploit, eventually becoming president of Fairchild Aviation Corporation of Canada.