Frederick Stanley Gordon

Summary

Frederick Stanley Gordon, DFC (29 October 1897 – 27 July 1985) was a New Zealand flying ace of the First World War. While serving in Britain's Royal Air Force, he scored nine aerial victories as a fighter pilot.

Frederick Stanley Gordon
Nickname(s)"Freddie"
Born(1897-10-29)29 October 1897
Auckland, New Zealand
Died27 July 1985(1985-07-27) (aged 87)
Cromwell, New Zealand
AllegianceNew Zealand
Service/branchNew Zealand Expeditionary Force
Royal Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
RankLieutenant
UnitNo. 74 Squadron RAF
Battles/warsFirst World War
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross
Croix de guerre (Belgium)

Early life edit

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

First World War edit

Gordon served in the Royal Air Force. By mid-1918, he was assigned to No. 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.[1] Gordon was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 3 June 1919,[2] and the Belgian Croix de guerre on 15 July.[3]

List of aerial victories edit

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 Victory shared with Harold Goodman Shoemaker
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 Victory shared with Andrew Kiddie Gordon and another pilot
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 [1][4]

Post-war edit

Gordon died on 27 June 1985.[1][4]

Endnotes edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Frederick Stanley Gordon". Theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  2. ^ "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 3 JUNE, 1919". London-gazette.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  3. ^ "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 15 JULY, 1919". London-gazette.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b Shores et al, p. 172.

References edit

  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.