William Jackson Rutherford in "The Courage of the Early Morning"

William Jackson Rutherford, our family's WWI flying ace, has two mentions in William Arthur Bishop's biography of his father, war hero Billy Bishop.  Here's the first reference:

"That evening he [Bishop] talked to the three pilots who had been assigned to his flight that day. Young had already taken them on a practice formation flight and his report of their flying abilities was highly favourable.  'They stick together well', he told Bishop, 'and they're likely-looking fighters too.

There was the small intense Spencer Horn, with sleek hair parted in the middle, a former infantryman who had fought on the same ground he would now fly over. William Mays Fry, a short man with a quick wit and a willingness to learn all his more experienced comrades could teach him about aerial fighting tactics...A fellow-Canadian completed the trio.  He was Jack Rutherford, wiry but strong. He had served with the 23rd Canadian Battalion before transferring to the RFC.  Young told Bishop that Rutherford showed an uncanny sense of timing. He had landed the Nieuport so smoothly that it was difficult to realize it was his maiden trip in the machine. 

Bishop grunted.  His own landing technique had not improved noticeably.  He took Young and his new flight members over to the mess for a drink.  Jack Scott came in and hobbled across to the bar and slapped Bishop on the back.  'Drinks are on you tonight, Bish,' the squadron commander grinned. 'Word just came in from Brigade--they've awarded you the military cross."

A short time later, Jackson took part in a risky experiment devised by Bishop:

"The unusually mild-mannered Jack Scott snorted when he read the opening sentence of Bishop's operational report on April 22, 1917.  'While leading a patrol I dived to the assistance of Major Scott who was being attacked by five enemy single-seaters two thousand feet below.'...

Bishop grinned.  It was true that Scott needed 'assistance' because he had volunteered, against his better judgment, to become the bait in a trap of Bishop's devising.  The trap required a special combination of good weather and cloud cover, which seldom arrived together in the April sky of northern France.  On this day Bishop's flight--Young, Horn, Fry, and Rutherford, with Scott tagging along--found the combination ten thousand feet above the city of Lens;  two great pillars of white cloud hovered in a clear blue sky.  Between the pillars was a snowy cavern a mile wide.  Bishop and his boys circled to the southwest over Vimy Ridge.  Jack Scott circled at eight thousand feet, waiting to be attacked. 

Soon Scott was attacked by five enemy planes whose pilots obviously hadn't been able to see Bishop and his companions lurking above.  Scott pretended not to see the Germans until they were almost upon him:

"Not until the five planes closed in on him with guns blazing did Scott turn to meet them.  Bishop had seen the German planes even before Scott.  He and his flight mates dived at full throttle into the formation.  Bishop opened fire on the nearest machine from ten yards.  Smoke spewed from it instantly and it plummeted down in a crazy spin.  Bishop turned on the plane at his right, closed to within five yards and pressed the button.  Bullets spluttered all about the pilot.  His head fell forward and the plane turned on its side and dived out of control.  Bishop had shot down two planes before his companions, who had started a few seconds behind him, could reach the scene.  The remaining Germans fled.  Young, Horn, Fry and Rutherford pursued them until they were out of sight.  Bishop pulled up beside Scott to make sure he was all right.  Scott grinned and waved his hand."

I can just imagine the adrenaline rush that must have come during an outing like this!  Bishop was obviously quite a daredevil.  It must have taken a very steady nerve to be on his flight team.