Frederick Stanley Gordon Explained

Frederick Stanley Gordon
Nickname:"Freddie"
Birth Date:29 October 1897
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand
Death Place:Cromwell, New Zealand
Allegiance:New Zealand
Branch:New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Royal Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Rank:Lieutenant
Unit:No. 74 Squadron RAF
Battles:First World War
Awards:Distinguished Flying Cross
Croix de guerre (Belgium)

Frederick Stanley Gordon, (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.

Early life

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

First World War

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

No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes
12 August 1918 @ 0930 hoursRoyal Aircraft Factory SE.5a serial number D3438LVG reconnaissance planeCapturedDickebuschVictory shared with George Gauld
216 August 1918 @ 0830 hoursRoyal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3438Fokker D.VIIDestroyedMessines
316 August 1918 @ 0830 hoursRoyal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3438Fokker D.VIIDriven down out of controlMessines
416 August 1918 @ 1250 hoursRoyal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3438Rumpler reconnaissance planeDestroyedEast of Kemmel HillVictory shared with Harold Goodman Shoemaker
522 August 1918 @ 0550 hoursRoyal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n D3438LVG reconnaissance planeDriven down out of controlEstaires
64 September 1918 @ 0805 hoursRoyal Aircraft Factory SE.5a s/n E1978Observation balloonDestroyedSouth of Roulers
728 October 1918 @ 1445 hoursRoyal Aircraft Factory SE.5aFokker D.VIIDestroyedNorthwest of WortegemVictory shared with Andrew Kiddie Gordon and another pilot
828 October 1918 @ 1450 hoursRoyal Aircraft Factory SE.5aFokker D.VIIDriven down out of controlWortegem
930 October 1918 @ 0830 hoursRoyal Aircraft Factory SE.5aObservation balloonDestroyedQuaremont

Post-war

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

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Frederick Stanley Gordon . Theaerodrome.com . 2016-05-25.
  2. Web site: SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 3 JUNE, 1919. London-gazette.co.uk. 2016-05-25.
  3. Web site: SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 15 JULY, 1919. London-gazette.co.uk. 2016-05-25.
  4. Shores et al, p. 172.