Repatriated to Canada, 7 August 1945. On strength of Central Flying School, Trenton, 1 October 1945 to 1 February 1946 Appointed to Permanent Force, 1 October 1946 as F/L. On strength of No.14 (Photo) Squadron 1 April 1946 to 29 Dec. 1947 With AFHQ, 30 December 1947 to 1 January 1948. With Canadian Joint Staff, Washington, 2 January to 25 April 1948 Back to AFHQ, 25 April 1948 Don died at the Montreal Neurological Institute, 26 June 1949, following brain surgery related to war injuries (Flak) |
_________________________________________________
B.C. Fliers Get Wings at Dauphin
DAUPHIN, Man., 15 July 1941 - Five Vancouver student pilots and two other British Columbia youths were among the graduating class which received their wings in the Royal Canadian Air Force at No. 10 Service Flying Training School here Monday.
With their wings they also won promotion to the rank of sergeant-pilot.
They are: J. C. Faulkes, 3676 West Thirty-seventh Avenue; D. C. Gordon, 3812 West Sixteenth Avenue; J. Rounsefell, 1491 West Twenty-sixth Avenue; R. Sherback, 1350 West Thirty-third Avenue; E. L. Mallett, 14 S.E. St. James Road, North Vancouver; J. V. Oavey, 680 Oliver Street, Victoria, and W. A. J. McLachlan, Vernon.
_________________________________________________
"The Chunk" with his parents, sister & two brothers, shortly before he was "winged"
Gordon on LeaveDONALD GORDON, former Sun carrier, received his wings at the RCAF Flying School at Dauphin, Manitoba, last week. Sergeant Pilot Don Gordon |
 |
_________________________________________________
From Ex-Byng Rugger
(Letter in the Vancouver Sun) Dear Hal — Just finished browsing through The Sun for the last month and enjoyed your columns very much. ... Things are very dull over here in the way of sport, just play the odd game of rugger. Incidentally, after having seen many of these internationalists play I think a good Rep team in Vancouver could put up an excellent show against them. They play differently here, more refined and a type like Hump Payne would be removed in the first five minutes for being too bruising. I also do a little basketball playing, but over here they don't put up backboards, just the hoops. Being an ex-Byng rugger I was given a great thrill to see we've again won the shield. But who won the Rose Bowl?
East India Squadron, Overseas.
Sgt/Pilot Gordon.
Ed. note — Certainly took this letter, Jan. 17 (1942), a long time to arrive. Imagine Don is having little time for sport now. If his family knows whether I can get a letter to him, would sit down and rattle one off.
_________________________________________________
NANAIMO FLYER IN 700 SORTIES
20 TO 2 ODDS ALL IN DAY'S WORK
West Van Pilot Fought In England, France, Ceylon and Egypt
LONDON, 16 Sept. 1942 — Stories of feats by Canadians trickle into London from far-flung air fronts of the war. These came from the Middle East where there are at least 2000 airmen from the Dominion scattered in almost every fighter or bomber squadron in operation.
F/S J. Neil has taken on some heavy odds in air battles in the Middle East and he's still fit and ready for more, after more than 700[?] sorties. Even 10-to-1 odds haven't deterred this young Nanaimo fighter pilot.
SHOT DOWN THREE
"I won't forget my first meet-up with the enemy in the Middle East," he related. "We really ran into a hornet's nest. Two of us were on patrol when we ran into a big formation — 16 Stukas and four ME109's. It was rough and tumble while it lasted, but we got three confirmed destroyed, plus four damaged.
"They were heading for Tobruk with bombs. We were above them and came roaring down to attack, spraying them with machine guns. They broke up, jettisoned their bombs and set for home. It was the best scare of my life — quite a picnic."
Neil, who has been shot down twice, once blasted a Heinkel 126 and two other aircraft on the ground, and since January has destroyed in air combat a JU87 and an ME109 and has as well a probable ME109F to his credit and an Italian Macchi 202.
THREE FRONTS
F/S Donald C. Gordon, 22-year-old fighter pilot from West Vancouver, has fought on three widely separated fronts, England and France, Ceylon and the Middle East.
His first operational work was with a Spitfire squadron in England and he took part in many sweeps over France before heading for a destination he was never to reach—Singapore. That fortress fell before he got there.
"I was in Ceylon in time to take part in the great sky battle on Easter Sunday," (5 April 1942) said Gordon, recalling the Japanese mass air attack on Colombo which was turned back with heavy loss.
"The Japs bombed the 'drome as we took off, but I was away and managed to gain my height and head for the harbor. I noticed a Jap naval on the tail of a pal of mine. I immediately jumped him, fired a few rounds and he blew up in mid-air." (not in logbook)
It was his second victory of the war. Previously he had destroyed an ME109 over France.
Afterwards he was posted to the Middle East and had been with his squadron only a short time before he came to grips with an ME109F on the tail of F/S T. B. Hamilton of Winnipeg. He sent the Jerry crashing to earth. A week later, he damaged a Macchi 202.
_________________________________________________
Serving on Desert Front, City Airman Has Five Huns to Credit
22 December 1942 - A Vancouver airman, P/O Donald Gordon, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Gordon, 3812 West Sixteenth, who damaged a Zero fighter during the big Japanese raid on Ceylon last April, and is now fighting in the western desert, has shot down an enemy fighter during operations in that area, it was announced by Air Force headquarters at Ottawa today.
Gordon and another airman on patrol over El Alamein were attacked by a formation of enemy fighters, and Gordon's companion was shot down. Gordon, however, managed to destroy one Messerschmitt 109, damaged a second and had to fight his way through eight other enemy aircraft before he could get to his base.
This brings to five the number of enemy aircraft destroyed by P/O Gordon.
P/O Gordon, a Vancouver Sun carrier for more than three years, was born in Vancouver and was educated at Kitchener, Point Grey Junior High and Lord Byng High Schools.
TELLS OF ADVENTURES
He enlisted in June 1940, and received his wings in July 1941. He was posted almost immediately to overseas service and was stationed in England for seven months. He then volunteered for desert service and has been in that zone of operations for more than a year.
A brother, AC2 Merritt Gordon, is now undergoing pilot training with the RCAF, and a sister, Cpl. Margaret Gordon, is also in the RCAF and is at present at Dauphin, Manitoba.
In letters to his family he tells of adventures he has experienced as a fighter pilot in England and the Middle East. In December 1941, he shot down his first enemy craft, and had to bail out on his return to England.
HIS FIRST HUN
"On Boxing Day we went out on a big sweep and over France we met a swarm of enemy aircraft and soon I had my first Hun," he wrote his mother.
"We were on our way back and my engine started running roughly for about three minutes. Then finally the Squadron Leader saw all this happening and told me to abandon aircraft. I undid my straps, opened the hood, rolled the aircraft over and fell out. "I landed in the sea about five miles from England, and my S/L circled about and showed the way to the Air Sea Rescue flight who picked me up in 30 minutes. I really enjoyed the parachute ride." In June, 1942, P/O Gordon got two more probables."
"You say that I must have been thrilled when I saw those two Jerries go down,” he wrote. "One of them I got was over a convoy. I gave him a three-second squirt, and he dived so I didn't follow. One of the other Sgts said he dived right into the drink.”
"The other I saw go down with one wing blown off by my cannon. There were so many 109's that day you didn't get very thrilled until you landed. Up to that time you were too scared."
TO MIDDLE EAST
In August 1942, he shot down another German aircraft. His description of the action was brief.
"On August 12, I got me an Me109F. I attacked him and got in a six-second burst and he flipped over and went straight down. I didn't see him actually crash so I only claimed a damaged."
But when Sgt. Gordon arrived back, British Army officials had telephoned his station to report that his German victim had been seen to crash into the sea.
From a good many parts of the world, where ever the Allies are fighting, have come letters home from this intrepid young fighter pilot. Among postmarks on his letters are those from Malta, New Zealand, Gold Coast, England, Gibraltar and Egypt.
"I'll say one thing for the air force," he wrote, "you certainly see the world, but the one part of the world that I want to see most of all right now is good old Vancouver."
In December 1942, he was with an advance squadron, pursuing the fleeing Germans, in the Middle East.
"These are the most exciting days of my life," he wrote.
"We move up so fast we didn't have time to pitch tents and slept underneath the wings of our kites. All along the road for 400 miles there are burnt out trucks, tanks, cars and motorcycles every 25 yards or so. "Between El Alamein and here there must be at least 8000 wrecks."
He tells also of how two Canadians in his squadron inadvertently captured 22 Italians.
"Two Canadians found a couple of Jerry Tommy guns, and took them down to the beach to fire them. After firing a couple of rounds they heard a noise behind them and were surprised to see 22 Ities (Italians) emerging from one of the many caves on the shore, with their hands clutching the stars. The boys co-operated and took them to a prisoner-of-war camp."
_________________________________________________
 HELPED CHASE ROMMEL - These five R.C.A.F. flyers are typical of the young Canadians who helped the United Nations chase Rommel and his pals from North Africa. Left to right they are Flight Sergeants M. A. Perkins, Melfort, Sask.; E. G. Shea, Moose Jaw; Don Gordon, Vancouver; W. J. Steele, Montreal, and F. D. Schofield, Montreal. |
City Flier Bags Two ME 109's in Action on Three Fronts
Canadians Enjoy Air Battle With Odds Two To One
WITH THE R.A.F. SOMEWHERE IN NORTH AFRICA, 10 Feb. 1943 - (CP) - Twelve Messerschmitt 109's, bombing units of the 8th Army during its advance towards Tripoli, were driven off by three Canadian and three English fighter pilots who piled in regardless of the two-to-one odds against them. The Canadians were F/O Ian Gilbert of Asbestos, Que., Flt.-Sgt. Ernest Shea of Moose Jaw, Sask., and William Steele of Toronto, a former Montrealer.
A veteran of many flying hours over Malta and the desert, Shea described the mix-up as "quite a bang-up scrap while it lasted." He and his companions enjoyed it immensely.
"Everybody was mixed up in dogfights and I managed to get my sights on one of the Jerries and gave him a long burst," Shea said jubilantly. "Then oil streamed back and smeared my wind-screen, but Steele saw my man." Shea, who destroyed an ME109 over El Alamein, has had his aircraft holed twice in combat but he has never been shot down. He said his hardest scraps were over Malta, which he left last summer.
Flt.-Sgt. Don Gordon of 3812 W. 16th Ave., Vancouver, has divided his many operational hours between England, Ceylon and the desert. He has destroyed two ME109's.
Flt.-Sgt. Max Perkins of Melfort, Sask., has just graduated from strafing enemy supply lines, which he says is great fun, and more satisfaction than high-level flying.
"You can see your fire bowling over trucks and men," he explained, "although the return fire is often terrific."
Steele, son of a Canadian army padre, has one Junkers 88 probably destroyed to his credit. When Hurricanes attacked a formation of Junkers on their way to bomb British troops, the Jerries panicked and "we saw them jettison their bombs squarely on top of their own troops. As they headed home I poured a burst into one which went into a spiral dive, with one engine smoking."
Three aircraft of the enemy formation were destroyed.
_________________________________________________
DON GORDON FIGHTS ALL OVER
City Flyer Bags Two Germans
By ROSS MUNRO, Canadian Press Staff Correspondent.
WITH THE R.A.F. SOMEWHERE IN NORTH AFRICA, 10 Feb. 1943 - Flt. Sgt. Don Gordon, of Vancouver, B.C., who has divided his many operational hours between England, Ceylon and the desert, is credited with destroying two ME-109's in operations with the 8th Army here.
Flt. Sgt. Don Gordon, R.C.A.F., 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Gordon, 3812 West Sixteenth, now with the 601 City of London Spitfire Squadron in North Africa, joined the air force here in October, 1940.
Since then he has flown over England and over the Gold Coast of Africa. He fought over Ceylon on Easter Sunday, 1942. Shot down over the English Channel on Boxing Day, 1941, he was in the water half an hour before being picked up.
In a letter to his mother he said: "I haven't had a hole in my 'kite' since." Writing to her last December of his African experiences he said: "We are moving up the desert so fast we don't have time to pitch a tent at nights. We eat out in the open and sleep under the wings of our plane."
Flt. Sgt. Gordon attended Kitsilano High School and Lord Byng High School, where he played rugby. Shortly after graduating he joined the R.C.A.F., and has seen continuous action ever since. Gordon has destroyed two Messerschmitt 109's.
_________________________________________________
 A group of "Canadian" pilots flying with an R.A.F. Hurricane squadron (274) somewhere in the Middle East. They are F/Sgt. J.W. Neil, Namaimo, B.C.; Sgt. K.H. Sutherland, Ottawa; F/Sgt Don Gordon, Vancouver; F/L R.H. Hunter, Dundas, P.E.I.; P/O G.P. Wilson, AnnaArbor, Mich.; S/L J.C. Hater, New Zealand; P/O T.E. McElhanny, Ottawa; Sgt. W.S. Howie, Montreal & P/O W.C. Wigston, Whitby, Ont. |
City-Born Flier Fought in Ceylon
10 Feb. 1943 - Flt. Sgt. Donald Gordon, of Vancouver, who damaged a Zero fighter during the Japanese raid on Ceylon last April and now is fighting in the western desert, was born in Edmonton. He has shot down one enemy plane in North Africa.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. I. G. Gordon, of Vancouver, the pilot has many relatives in the city, two aunts, Mrs. H. E. Dodge, 5 Hecla block and Mrs. M. G. Graham. 10128 114th St.; and two uncles, Jack Gordon, 10950 83rd St., and Ken Gordon, 10319 95th St. A third uncle is in the army overseas, L/Cpl. Harry Gordon.
The flier also has a brother and a sister in the air force, Merritt in Saskatoon and Cpl. Margaret at Dauphin.
Flt. Sgt. Gordon left Edmonton with his parents when he was four years old. They lived for a time in California and then moved to Vancouver.
_________________________________________________
Canadian Flier Chalks Up Fine Record in Middle East
Cairo, 10 April 1943 - Formerly an instructor in electrical engineering at the University of Toronto and subsequently on the staff of International Nickel at Sudbury, 28-year-old F/L Albert Houle, of Massey, Ont., has done 230 hours of operational flying since being posted to the Middle East more than a year ago, and has chalked up a total of four enemy aircraft destroyed, one probably destroyed and three damaged.
His gong was an immediate award as a result of the achievement of getting two destroyed, one probable, and two damaged, all within the space of four minutes. This occurred when he took part in an attack on seven Stuka dive-bombers. During his many air battles, his aircraft has been several times holed, but he has escaped injury.
Another R.C.A.F. veteran of air warfare is Flight Sergeant Donald Gordon, of 3812 16th Avenue, Vancouver, whose operational hours have been divided into 45 in Britain, 15 in Ceylon and 55 on the desert. His claims total two 109's destroyed, one in England and one in Alamein. On the latter occasion, he and his No. 2 were attacked by a formation of enemy fighters and his No. 2 was shot down. He destroyed one and damaged another, but eight more swarmed around him like hornets, as all alone he fought his way homeward.
In Ceylon, he crossed aerial swords with the Japanese, and during the big raid last April he damaged a Zero fighter. He recalls that, of more than 80 Jap planes attacking, 27 were destroyed and as many more probably destroyed, while the R.A.F. lost only 16 aircraft and nine pilots. His chum, Pilot Officer James Whalen, of Vancouver, accounted for three of the Japs.
_________________________________________________
City Airman May Get Christmas Mackinaw After All
June 1943 - It seems that F/O Donald Gordon, serving in the central Mediterranean theatre of war, will get his Christmas wish fulfilled after all.
After 25 city tailors had turned down a request by Mrs. R. D. Gordon, 3812 W. 68th Ave., to turn a Hudson's Bay blanket into a mackinaw for her flying son, Miss Lydia M. Lawrence came to the fore and offered to do the job free of charge. Miss Lawrence, who has a studio in the Arts and Crafts bldg., is strictly a women's fashion designer and dressmaker, but she is willing to stretch a point in order to "make another small contribution to a cause that must be won.”
"I will make this mackinaw in my spare time," said Miss Lawrence, "and my good wishes will accompany F/O Gordon where ever he wears it."
A young member of the R.C.A.F. stationed here has volunteered to act as mover and all F/O Gordon's mother and Miss Lawrence are worrying about now is whether the mackinaw will reach the officer in time for Christmas.
_________________________________________________
ALGIERS
(October 1943) SPECIAL CABLE - WHEN GENERAL SIR HAROLD ALEXANDER FLEW RECENTLY TO ITALY FROM SICILY, HE WAS ESCORTED BY PILOTS OF THE R.C.A.F. SPITFIRE SQUADRON “CITY OF WINDSOR". THE ALLIED DEPUTY COMMANDER IN CHIEF WAS FLOWN TO ITALY FORTY EIGHT HOURS AFTER THE LANDING OF THE EIGHTH ARMY BY AIR MARSHALL SIR ARTHUR CONINGHAM, HEAD OF THE TACTICAL FORCE. IN ITALY, HE CONFERRED WITH GENERAL MONTGOMERY. AFTER THE CONFERENCE, THE CANADIANS AGAIN FORMED THE GUARDING FORCE WHEN GENERAL ALEXANDER RETURNED TO HIS SICILIAN HEADQUARTERS.
PILOTS TAKING PART INCLUDED FLIGHT LIEUTENANT WILLIAM WHITSIDE OF SICOMOE, ONTARIO, FLYING OFFICER ERIC MITCHELL OF PORTEAU, B.C., FLYING OFFICER HOWARD SUTTON OF COURTENAY, B.C. AND PILOT OFFICER DON GORDON OF VANCOUVER, B.C.
_________________________________________________
Vancouver Airman In Termoli Air Fight
6 Oct. 1943 - Among a group of airmen taking part in an engagement against 12 FW190's which were bombing the British-held town of Termoli on the Italian Adriatic coast, was F/O Donald Gordon of 3812 West Sixteenth. He was flying in a small formation of Spitfires led by F/L Bert Houle, D.F.C., of Massey, Ont.
When the German planes spotted the Spitfires they jettisoned their bombs harmlessly and raced for home. Houle immediately led his flight into combat, shot down one plane and damaged two more.
_________________________________________________
Escorted Leaders - City Man First Flyer in Italy After Invasion
First Allied airman to land in Italy after the invasion was a young Vancouver man, Flying Officer Don Gordon. He was one of the fighter pilots escorting Gen. Harold Alexander and Air Marshal Coningham, two top military commanders in the Mediterranean Theatre.
Flying Officer Gordon, 3812 West Sixteenth, a veteran of Channel dog fights, El Alemein and Burma at 24, landed his plane on the toe of the Italian boot. Gen. Alexander and Air Marshal Coningham made the trip after Canadian troops had established their beachhead.
TALKED WITH GENERAL
"The Canadians had already pushed in 10 miles on Reggio de Calabria. We had a short talk with the general. He asked how the air war was going, and if we had any good times lately."
The Vancouver flyer's total bag in all theatres is five enemy planes destroyed, four probables and nine damaged.
"I was shot down over the Channel once," he said. "I was with the 8th Army. Those troops certainly were marvelous."
Strafing flak towers in France was "pretty dangerous. Three fighters had to attack at once to spread enemy fire."
_________________________________________________
 Their tour of operations completed, these two Canadian pilots with the RCAF in Italy lose no time in packing up and leaving the squadron on furlough. On the left is F/O George Newton, son of Mr. and Mrs. O.F.C. Newton, 3081 West Twelfth, who attended King Edward High School here and was with the Royal Bank prior to enlisting with the RCAF. He had a narrow escape last May when his plane was shot down during operations in the Middle East. Lending a helping hand with the kit bag is F/O Don Gordon, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Gordon, 3812 West Sixteenth, who has several enemy aircraft to his credit. One is a Zero fighter he shot down during a raid on Ceylon last April. F/O Gordon has seen action in the western desert as well. He enlisted with the RCAF in June 1940. (Meyers collection) |
_________________________________________________
Canadian Fighter Pilots Get Biggest Bag of Huns
London, Jan 2 1945 (CP) - Canadian fighter pilots accounted for at least half of the 94 German plane destroyed by the RAF's 2nd Tactical Air Force New Year's Day when the Luftwaffe made an attempt to cripple west front airfield operations.
A compilation tonight, based on the latest reports received from the Continent, showed that RCAF fighters in their biggest day of the war destroyed at least 36 enemy aircraft and half-a-dozen others fell to Canadian sharpshooters in RAF Squadrons.
The top scoring wing in the 2nd Tactical Air Force during the day of close to 100 "kills" was the Canadian Spitfire unit which brought down 24 German machines, probably destroyed another three and damaged seven. An untold number of probables and damaged planes were claimed by other Canadians.
The wing’s scorers included two airmen who downed three planes apiece, both from the Ram Squadron. F/O G. D. Cameron of Toronto destroyed a trio of ME-109s while F/L John Mackay of Cloverdale, B.C., destroyed two ME-109s and an FW-190. Mackay got the last two without using his guns because they dived into the ground when he chased them.
F/L D. Pieri of Toronto and Elmhurst, Ill., destroyed two FW-190s and probably destroyed two others.
F/L Dick Audet of Lethbridge, Alta., who last Friday shot down five enemy planes in little more than five minutes, brought his total to seven with two FW-190s bagged as they roared low over his field. Friday's quintet were the first aircraft the 22 year-old Lethbridge airman had downed.
Others from the Canadian wing, who helped to set up the day's record - the previous top mark for the Canadians in a single day was 22 planes - included S/L Dean Dover, DFC, and Bar, of Toronto, who destroyed an ME-109 and shared another with F/O Dean Kelly of Peterborough, Ont. and F/L Donald Gordon of Vancouver with two ME-109's.
Double scorers included F/L J. W. Garland, Richmond, Ont.; P/O Steve Butte, Michel, B.C.; P/O Mac Reeves, Madoc, Ont. and F/O A. H. Fraser, Westmount, Que.
Single scorers included F/L W. Banks, Toronto; F/L B. MacPherson, St. Thomas, Ont.; F/L Basil Doak, Cowansville, Que.; F/O Vic Smith, Toronto; F/O J. C. Lee, Ottawa; P/O D. M. Horsburgh, Carnduff, Sask.; F/L N. Keene, White Lake, B.C.; F/O H. Laurence, Edson, Alta. and F/Sgt Keith Lindsay, 10764 95th St. Edmonton. Lindsay also claimed one probable.
Operations today were restricted by weather but 90 sorties were flown and all aircraft returned. Two locomotives were destroyed and four others damaged in the Cologne area by Spitfire fighter-bombers.
_________________________________________________
6 B.C. Fliers Score In Record Air Fight
3 Jan. 1945 - Six veterans of aerial warfare over Europe, whose homes are in British Columbia, knocked enemy planes from the skies in the greatest aerial battle of the war, assisting the Royal Canadian Air Force in chalking up a new record — at least 42 German planes destroyed — and blasted German cities in night sweeps over Germany.
Highest scorer among RCAF personnel of the fight, which occurred on New Year's Day, was F/L John MacKay, Cloverdale, member of the Ram Squadron, who destroyed two Mel09's and an FW190. He used his guns to blast one of the planes to earth, but chased the other two to the ground before firing a shot, according to Canadian Press dispatches from London on Tuesday night and today.
TWO FOR MICHEL
Double scorers in the fight were F/L Donald Gordon, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Gordon, 3812 West Sixteenth, who in April 1943 was fighting the Japanese from his base in Ceylon, and P/O Steve Butte, Michel.
F/L Norman Keene, DFC, who was feted by citizens of White Rock when he returned home in October, 1943, after winning his decoration for "high skill and courage" after 73 operational flights, was credited with destroying an enemy plane, while F/L A. H. Rose, Powell River, was navigator of a bomber, which knocked a German bomber from the sky over Brussels. The plane was the first of two destroyed by the squadron, which was also credited with destroying a third.
LARGE FIRES
F/O C. L. Hoff, former employee of The Vancouver Sun, whose home is at 470 West Twentieth, described four large fires he saw after a bombing raid on Ludwigshafen, home of the Farben Chemical Industries in Germany. The fires were followed by a large explosion.
F/O Gordon, who was a former carrier for The Vancouver Sun for more than three years, was born and educated in Vancouver. He enlisted in June 1940, and was posted overseas almost immediately after winning his wings in July 1941. After seven months in England he volunteered for desert service and later was posted in India.
_________________________________________________
TWO STUKAS ARE CITY ACE'S ONE-DAY SCORE
F/L Don Gordon Registers Ninth Kill Supporting Canadians in West Front Drive
9 Feb. 1945 - F/L Don C. Gordon, D.F.C., shot down two German Stukas Thursday, shared in downing a third, and brought his score to nine planes destroyed, at least four probables and at least nine damaged.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Gordon, of 3812 West Sixteenth, he was flying in support of the Canadian offensive. The "kills" were made over the front southeast of Wesel.
Two other B.C. flyers, F/L Phil Blades, Victoria, and F/L H. C. Charlesworth, Chemainus, took part in the destruction of two locomotives and damaged two more southwest of Hamm.
They were part of a group of Canadian Typhoons and Spitfires who flew more than 300 sorties from dawn to dusk Thursday, striking German rail and road systems and border towns.
F/L Gordon, 25, flying with the Caribou Spitfire squadron, adopted by New Westminster, is a veteran of Channel dogfights, El Alamein and Ceylon.
His Distinguished Flying Cross award, mentioned in a report from London, is a surprise to his mother. She heard some time ago, however, that he had been recommended for the award.
F/L Gordon was born in Vancouver and educated at Kitchener, Point Grey Junior High and Lord Byng High schools. He enlisted in June 1940; went overseas in the summer of 1941. He was home on three weeks' leave last summer after completing two tours of operations in three different theatres of war. He is now on his third tour.
A brother, F/O Merritt Gordon, is stationed at Dauphin, Man., and his sister, F/Sgt. Margaret Gordon, is with the R.C.A.F. overseas.
F/L Blades and F/L Charlesworth are both flying with the Red Indian Spitfire squadron. F/L Charlesworth is also a veteran of the North African campaign.
_________________________________________________
B.C. Flier Lifts Score To 9 Nazis
9 Feb. 1945 - Four British Columbia airmen figured in damaging raids on German transportation yesterday with F/L D. C. Gordon, DFC, of Vancouver, shooting down two Stukas himself and sharing in a third.
The B.C. fliers were members of continent-based Typhoon and Spitfire squadrons giving support to the 1st Canadian Army offensive southeast of Nijmegen.
HUNS' DEATH DIVE
F/S John Johnston, Vancouver, in the mid upper gun turret of one raiding bomber, gave a 400-round burst from his guns as a Nazi FW-190 closed in on the bomber with all guns blazing. The Nazi plane burst into flames and screamed earthward.
Also taking part in the raids were F/L Phil Blades, Victoria, and F/L H. C. Charlesworth, Chemainus, members of the Red Indian squadron that destroyed two locomotives and damaged two others southwest of Hamm.
In an all-day series of raids - 300 sorties - the squadrons blasted railroads and highways. One mission of six RCAF Spitfires found five trains, each of 50 cars, speeding west between Dorsten and Wesel. The raiders blew up one locomotive and smashed two others and 30 cars. F/S Johnston is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Johnston, 4673 East Tenth.
Born in Vancouver, he was educated at Queen Mary School, Vernon Preparatory School and Lord Byng. He went overseas when 19.
FORMER SUN CARRIER
F/L Gordon, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Gordon, 3812 West Sixteenth, former Vancouver Sun carrier boy, is a veteran who had fought in all theatres, including Ceylon and the Western desert.
Gordon, who had five Nazi planes destroyed to his credit, went out last New Year's Day in one of the biggest aerial battles of the war and shot down two more. He repeated with two Stukas in Thursday's sorties.
_________________________________________________
Canadians Down Six Nazi PlanesAN ADVANCED R.C.A.F. AIRFIELD IN HOLLAND, 11 Feb. 1945 — The top-scoring Canadian Spitfire wing flying support for the Canadian 1st Army offensive shot down six German aircraft Thursday, and in addition, it was disclosed Friday, scored six rail line cuts, destroyed one locomotive, damaged six, damaged nearly 50 railway cars and one motor transport, blew up four warehouses and made direct hits on a road.
F/L Don "Chunky" Gordon |
 |
_________________________________________________
GORDON, F/L Donald Campbell (J16633) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.442 Squadron
Award effective 23 February 1945 as per London Gazette of that date &
AFRO 1453/45 dated 14 September 1945.
This officer has displayed the highest standard of skill and resolution in his attacks on the enemy. Among his successes is the destruction of four enemy aircraft. Two of these he shot down recently in an engagement against a large force of enemy fighters. Flight Lieutenant Gordon was wounded and his aircraft badly damaged but he effected a successful crash-landing.
NOTE: DHist file 181.009 D.2833 (RG.24 Volume 20632) has recommendation drafted 8 January 1945 when he had flown 275 sorties (335 operational hours. Detail bears comparison with above:
Flight Lieutenant Gordon has taken part in 275 sorties against the enemy in Africa and Europe and has displayed great keenness and determination to engage the enemy at all times, both in the air and on the ground. He has taken part in many bombing and strafing sorties with great efficiency and success. On one occasion recently this officer was returning early by himself from the squadron formation due to his aircraft being unserviceable. Nevertheless on hearing over the radio of enemy activity he went to the vicinity and sighted and attacked 50 or more enemy fighters. He succeeded in destroying two before he was wounded and his aircraft so badly damaged he was forced to crash land. This brought his total number of enemy aircraft destroyed in the air to four and one-half, four probably destroyed and five damaged. He has at all times set a high example to his squadron and has always shown great courage and devotion to duty.
_________________________________________________
CANADIAN SPITFIRE SQUADRON THIRSTING FOR 300TH VICTIM
Down Seven of Enemy in One Day, But Poor Weather Halts Hunting
(By F/O James P. Rennie, D.F.C. War Correspondent for the Spectator and Southam Papers) On the Western Front, 26 Feb. 1945 - Eagerly, almost impatiently, these youthful Canadian Spitfire pilots raced through their noonday meal. One hour before they screamed their deadly little craft into base to report seven Jerry fighters destroyed and two damaged. Now, just one more "kill" would bring the wing's total bag to a nice round figure of 300. But the weather was deteriorating fast.
Brisk Scrap
Even as a mess guest I sensed this electric atmosphere on entering the room. After five minutes with the pilots I wanted that one additional kill as earnestly as any man in the place. But, as so frequently happens in flying, the weather-man won. Sorties ended for the day at noon. The Luftwaffe was safe for another few hours.
Flyers of the all Canadian fighter wing displayed obvious disappointment. In two sorties before noon they had encountered Jerries twice and for the first time in weeks the enemy showed willingness to fight. This delighted our airmen, who saw it only as bad judgment, for both scrambles cost Goering eight fighters destroyed and three damaged. All our Spits returned safely.
Twelve pilots figured in the sweep which knocked out seven enemy aircraft in a brisk eight-minute scrap. They were patrolling north of the Ruhr, Germany's industrial heart, when more than 40 FW-190's and ME-109's were sighted at 8,000 feet. After eight minutes of mad scramble the Jerries sped for home. Seven of their number had hit the deck in flames.
Share Destruction
Between gulps of coffee F/L R. B. Barker, of Vancouver, described his two kills and one probable. Quick bursts of cannon fire finished both.
"I followed my first one down to see him hit the deck in flames," he said. "My second just broke up in the air."
Credited with two kills each during the forenoon's work were F/L Ken Trumley, of Toronto, and F/O Ernest Baker, of London, Ont. The other victim fell to F/L Don C. Gordon, D.F.C., of Vancouver.
Prefer Combat
"Yes, a fighter pilot always prefers an enemy fighter to trains or dive bombings." said their 24-year-old wing commander (Dal Russel –jf). This blond, chunky product of Minnedosa, Man., ought to know. He has completed three operational tours, one of them in Malta. Along the way he's collected the D.S.O. and two D.F.C.s.
Typical of these fighter boys is F/L Bill Banks, D.F.C., of Leaside, Ont. Bill has 11 kills to his credit in addition to four trains and 40 motor vehicles destroyed or damaged. But he looked none too happy as he walked into the mess. Two days ago he finished his operational tour with a dive bombing sortie on railways deep inside Germany. Now he is faced with what he considers the horrible fate of spending some months as ground instructor in England. "Bill is really browned off," the wing commander said with a laugh.
When that 300th kill is recorded, F/O D. F. Church, of Peterboro, will be ousted from his place of eminence in the mess. To him fell the honour of bringing the wing's count to 250. Competition is keen for this next one.
_________________________________________________
 GETS ANOTHER — F/L D.C. Gordon, D.F.C. (shown above with squadron mates), added another Luftwaffe victim to his impressive list of air victories in a sweep over the Ruhr Valley. According to the latest tabulation, the Vancouver ace has ten Germans to his credit. F/L Gordon is the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Gordon, 3812 West Sixteenth. Now on his third tour of operations the 25-year-old city flyer also has seen action in India and the Middle East. He was educated at Kitchener, Point Grey Junior and Lord Byng High schools and enlisted in June 1940. He went overseas in the summer of 1941 |
TWO 'KILLS' FOR VICTORIA FLYER
F/L R. B. Barker Also Gets Probable in Ruhr Sweep
By J. P. RENNIE. (Special Staff Correspondent of The Vancouver Daily Province and Associated Southam Newspapers) IN GERMANY, 26 Feb. 1945 — Eagerly, almost impatiently, these youthful Canadian Spitfire pilots raced through their noon-day meal. One hour before, they screamed their deadly little craft into base to report seven Jerry fighters destroyed and two damaged.
Now, just one more "kill" would bring the wings' total bag to a nice round figure of 300. But the weather was deteriorating fast.
Even as a mess guest I sensed this electric atmosphere on entering the room. After five minutes with the pilots I wanted that one additional kill as earnestly as any man in the wing. But as so frequently happens in flying, the weatherman won. Sorties ended for the day at noon. The Luftwaffe was safe for another few hours.
ALL SPITS RETURN Flyers of this all-Canadian fighter wing displayed obvious disappointment. In two sorties before noon, they had encountered Jerries twice and for the first time in weeks, the enemy showed willingness to fight. The scrambles cost Goering eight fighters destroyed and three damaged. All our Spits returned safely. Twelve pilots figured in the sweep which knocked out seven enemy aircraft in a brisk eight-minute scrap. They were patrolling north of the Ruhr, Germany's industrial heart, when more than 40 FW190 and ME109s were sighted at 8000 feet. After eight minutes of mad scramble, the Jerries sped for home. Between gulps of coffee F/L R. B. Barker of Victoria described his two kills and one probable. Quick bursts of cannon fire finished both. "I followed my first one down to see him hit the deck in flames. My second just broke up in the air." Another victim fell to F/L Don C. Gordon, D.F.C., of Vancouver. Gordon's citation for the D.F.C. read that he had displayed "the highest standard of skill and resolution in his attacks on the enemy. Among his success is the destruction of four enemy aircraft. Two of these he shot down recently in an engagement against a large force of enemy fighters. F/O Gordon was wounded and his aircraft was badly damaged, but he effected a successful crash landing." Mixing it this way with the Luftwaffe warms the hearts of these young flyers. But as a unit giving air support to our ground forces, they have other important and hazardous functions. These additional jobs are done with equal tenacity but the all-out enthusiasm just isn't there. |
 The crash site of Gordon's Spitfire |
_________________________________________________
The Last Patrol by Lance Russworm126 Wing 2nd Tactical Air force - B116, Wunstorf - On 5 May 1945, four Canadian Spitfires flew what was almost certainly the last sorties of the war Europe. |
 |
_________________________________________________
GORDON, S/L Donald Campbell, DFC (J16633) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - No.402 Squadron
Award effective 7 July 1945 as per London Gazette dated 20 July 1945 &
AFRO 1478/45 dated 21 September 1945
Both in the air and on the ground this officer has displayed outstanding courage and skill in operations against the enemy. Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross he has destroyed five more enemy aircraft bringing his total victories to at least nine enemy aircraft destroyed and others damaged. He has led his squadron in many relentless attacks against enemy road and rail transport in heavily defended areas and has inflicted considerable damage on the enemy's lines of communications. At all times Squadron Leader Gordon has displayed brilliant leadership, a fine fighting spirit and great determination.
_________________________________________________
Victories Include :
Chris Shores, Aces High (2nd edition) has a complete victory list however, the claims marked with an *asterisk are recorded only in his logbook & not in squadron records. I have changed some of the dates & info to reflect the info found in the logbook.
| 26 Dec 1941 5 April 1942 * 27 May 1942 * 21 June 1942 * 14 July 1942 3 Aug 1942 * 31 Aug 1942 * 1 Sep 1942 * 4 Dec 1942 27 Feb 1943 * 13 Mar 1943 17 Mar 1943 * 19 Apr 1943 21 Apr 1943 1 Jan 1945 8 Feb 1945 25 Feb 1945 16 Apr 1945 27 Apr 1945 2 May 1945 |
one ?? one Zero one Ju87 one Me109 one MC202 one MC202 one Me109 one Me109 one Me109 one Me109 one Ju87 one Ju88 one Me109 one MC202 one Ju87 one Me109 one Re2001 two FW190s 2.5 Ju87s one Me109 1/2 Ju88 1/2 FW190 one He115 one Fi156 |
?? (letter to parents) damaged (not in logbook) probable destroyed & probable damaged destroyed & damaged (not claimed) (saw strikes, not claimed) damaged & damaged probable [a] damaged probable probable [not in logbook] destroyed damaged [b] destroyed destroyed [c] destroyed & destroyed [d] destroyed OTW destroyed |
12 / 4 / 5 plus 5 / 0 / 3 OTG (His total although not everything is in his logbook)
10 / 5 / 5 plus 1 On The Water (C. Shores and C. Williams, Aces High 2nd Ed.)
[a] Logbook note says "hit sea and bounced off" [b] "Guns jammed when I was 200 yards away - right up his bum - damn !" [c] "Squadron bumped into five Stukas and shot down the bunch. I got 2½ confirmed. Doyle got 1½ and Barker got one." (Gordon & Doyle shared one) [d] Aces High 2nd Ed. states, "He and his wingman attacked this composite which separated. He then shot down the Ju88 (which was, of course, pilotless), whilst his wingman shot down the FW190. They were credited with a shared victory over a single composite aircraft." (Wingman was J.D. Bazett -jf) Check out his logbook war total for yourself by clicking that thumbnail below
|
_________________________________________________
Sons Get Dad's Medals At Ottawa Investiture
Ottawa, 10 Dec. 1947 - (CP) - In the name of His Majesty the King . . . I give you the medal which your father won . . ."
Viscount Alexander, Governor-General, bowed and smiled as he handed the Distinguished Flying Cross to 4-year-old Kenneth Mitchell of Victoria at an investiture today in Government House. It was the medal Kenneth's father, the late F/L C. G. Mitchell, had won for "devotion to duty." The lad and his mother had traveled from the west coast to receive the award.
Twelve-year-old Jean-Louis Bieler of Montreal was the second youngster to receive a decoration which his father had won.
Dressed in Boy Scout uniform, he stood at attention while Viscount Alexander pinned to his blouse the medal of the Distinguished Service Order which his father, Major G. D. A. Bieler, gave his life in winning more than four years ago.
Little is known of Major Bieler's behind-the-lines operations, except that he perfected an escape route for prisoners of war.
Eventually the route was discovered and Major Bieler was executed.
More than 70 decorations were presented at Government House, most going to members of the RCAF.
Mrs. R. G. Christie, of Edmonton, received the Distinguished Flying Medal for her husband, the late P/O Christie. T. C. Dempster, of Toronto, received the DFM which his brother, the late F/S W. J. Dempster, had won.
The Air Force Cross went to W/C K. C. Maclure, of Montreal, "for outstanding devotion to duty and ingenuity as a navigator ...'
W/C Maclure took part in a scientific survey over the north geographic and magnetic, poles.
"... The contribution which he has made to the accomplishment of the flights and the scientific data he was able to collect will undoubtedly have far-reaching effects," read the citation.
Others receiving decorations Included: Mrs. W. P. Klersy, Toronto, for her son, the late S/L W. T. Klersy (DSO, DFC and bar); W/C H. B. Long, Vancouver (OBE); W/C J. H. Penton, Port Dover, (MBE); S/L H. C. Ashdown, Montreal (MBC); F/L D. C. Gordon, Vancouver (DFC and bar).
Mrs. W. Seicker, Kitchener, for her son, the late F/L W. J. L. Seicker (DFC and Bar); H. W. Blenkinsop, Victoria, for his son, the late S/L E. W. Blenkinsop (DFC); Mrs. T. H. Moseley-Williams, North Bay, for her son, the late S/L W. R. Moseley-Williams (DFC).
Mrs. A. J. Haynes, Winnipeg, for her husband, the late F/O A. M. Mackie (DFC); Mrs. J. H. A. McCaffrey, Vancouver; for her husband, the late P/O J. H. A. McCaffrey (DFC); Mrs. J. R. Chapman, St. Thomas, for her husband, the late WO2 J. R. Chapman (DFC).
_________________________________________________
Related Sites : |
_________________________________________________
Thanks go out to
Greg Maslen & Merritt Gordon for giving me the scans
and photos !!
Also to Ian Meyers for the photos from his grandfather's collection.
On these pages I use Hugh Halliday's extensive research which includes info from numerous sources; newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC); the Google News Archives; the London Gazette Archives and other sources both published and private.
|
Some content on this site is probably the property of acesofww2.com unless otherwise noted.
