| Frederick Stanley Gordon | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | "Freddie" |
| Born | 29 October 1897 |
| Died | 27 July 1985 (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[]
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/nzealand/gordon1.php Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/nzealand/gordon1.php Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/nzealand/gordon1.php Retrieved 6 July 2011.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 June 1919, p. 7031.) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31378/supplements/7031 Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 15 July 1919, p. 8987.) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31457/supplements/8987 Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/nzealand/gordon1.php Retrieved 13 July 2011.
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The original article can be found at Frederick Stanley Gordon and the edit history here.