The Unfortunate Disappearance of Bill Barilko and The Tragically Hip’s 'Fifty Mission Cap'

This particular track became one of the band's signature songs and is featured on their acclaimed album Fully Completely. To this day, it remains a key part of the warm-up music for every Toronto Maple Leafs home match. Furthermore, a handwritten version of the song's lyrics by songwriter Gord Downie can be found in the team's private lounge.

Now, let's take a closer look at the story that inspired this moving tribute.

“The last goal he scored before his time ran out”

Known affectionately as 'Bashin’ Bill', Bill Barilko kicked off his hockey career in 1947 at the youthful age of 20. That very year, he clinched his first Stanley Cup – and it wouldn't be his last, as he won three more championships in 1948, 1949, and 1951. He quickly became one of the most revered figures in hockey and was poised to leave a monumental impact on the sport. His last goal was particularly significant, being the game-winner in the Stanley Cup final on April 21, 1951. Toronto Maple Leafs Just four months after scoring that memorable goal, Bill set out on a weekend fishing trip. Alongside his friend and dentist, Henry Hudson, he boarded a small plane heading to Rupert House in Quebec. The flight initially went smoothly, and the two friends enjoyed their time fishing. However, things took a mysterious turn on their return flight to Porcupine Lake. Their aircraft vanished without a trace! No wreckage, no clues – it was as if Bill's final flight had simply erased him from existence.

“He was on a fishing trip (in a plane)”

As far as people knew in 1951, Bill had completely vanished. Lacking the sophisticated technology we have today to conduct thorough searches, he seemed forever lost in the annals of time.

“The year of discovery: nineteen sixty-two”

On June 6, 1962, Gary Fields stumbled upon the wreckage of the missing single-engine plane. Amidst the twisted debris, he discovered two skeletons – those of Bill Barilko and Henry Hudson. While the precise reasons for the crash remain unclear, the plane was found over 50 kilometers away from its intended route, leading to speculation that poor weather conditions, excessive weight, and pilot inexperience contributed to the disaster.

Regardless of the exact circumstances behind the tragic accident, the fate of Bill Barilko marked a heartbreaking conclusion to an otherwise illustrious career. Following the discovery and recovery of his remains, the Toronto Maple Leafs honored him by retiring his #5 jersey.

Interestingly, after Bill's disappearance in 1951, it took until 1962 for the Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup again – the very year his remains were found and returned to his hometown.

The Tragically Hip pays tribute to Bill Timmins .

Now that you understand the circumstances surrounding Bill's disappearance, you may not realize how his musical homage, “Fifty Mission Cap”, has influenced subsequent generations.

The phrase 'fifty-mission cap' alludes to a practice among WWII pilots who would crush their hats to suggest greater experience, implying they had survived 50 missions. The lyrics also mention a particular 'hockey card', thought to be card No. 340 from the 1991 NHL Pro Set series that recounts Bill's narrative.

Connecting the dots to the pilot's cap, although pilots squashed the sides of their hats, they ensured the brim remained intact by inserting a playing card for support. The poignant irony of Bill's story being encapsulated within the symbolism of a rookie pilot's hat appears to have sparked the inspiration behind the songwriters' reimagining of Bill's life.

This song was first performed live at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1991 and has since become one of the band's most beloved tracks . A chapter dedicated to the tribute was featured in a 2004 book about the Maple Leafs, and a documentary released in 2017 titled 'The Mission', about recovering the crashed plane, drew its name from the song.

Whenever The Tragically Hip played at the Air Canada Centre, the banner representing Bill Barilko’s retired number was displayed throughout the concert. The connection between Bill's story and its tribute is irrevocably intertwined; it even found its way into the memorial celebrations for Gord Downie.

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