Frederick Stanley Gordon

Frederick Stanley Gordon
Nickname(s) "Freddie"
Born (1897-10-29)29 October 1897
Died 27 July 1985(1985-07-27) (aged 87)
Allegiance New Zealand
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Lieutenant
Unit No. 74 Squadron RAF
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross, Belgian Croix de guerre

Lieutenant Frederick Stanley Gordon was a World War I flying ace from New Zealand. While serving in Britain's Royal Air Force, he scored nine aerial victories as a fighter pilot.

Early life

Frederick Stanley Gordon was born in New Zealand on 29 October 1897.[1]

World War I

Gordon served in the Royal Air Force. By mid-1918, he was assigned to 74 Squadron as a fighter pilot. He began a nine victory winning streak on 2 August 1918 that was capped with his second ballon busting mission on 30 October 1918. He would be granted no military honors during the war.[2]

List of aerial victories

No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 2 August 1918 @ 0930 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a serial number D3438 LVG reconnaissance plane Captured Dickebusch Victory shared with George Gauld
2 16 August 1918 @ 0830 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3438 Fokker D.VII Destroyed Messines
3 16 August 1918 @ 0830 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3438 Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Messines
4 16 August 1918 @ 1250 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3438 Rumpler reconnaissance plane Destroyed East of Kemmel Hill
5 22 August 1918 @ 0550 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3438 LVG reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Estaires
6 4 September 1918 @ 0805 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E1978 Observation balloon Destroyed South of Roulers
7 28 October 1918 @ 1445 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a Fokker D.VII Destroyed Northwest of Wortegem
8 28 October 1918 @ 1450 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Wortegem
9 30 October 1918 @ 0830 hours Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a Observation balloon Destroyed Quaremont [3]

Post World War I

On 3 June 1919 Gordon was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[4] On 15 July 1919 he was awarded the Belgian Croix de guerre.[5]

Nothing more is known of him than the fact he died on 27 June 1985.[6]

Endnotes

  1. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/nzealand/gordon1.php Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  2. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/nzealand/gordon1.php Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  3. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/nzealand/gordon1.php Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  4. (Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 June 1919, p. 7031.) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31378/supplements/7031 Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  5. (Supplement to the London Gazette, 15 July 1919, p. 8987.) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31457/supplements/8987 Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  6. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/nzealand/gordon1.php Retrieved 13 July 2011.


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