Robert MacIntyre Gordon

Robert MacIntyre Gordon
Nickname(s) "Bobby"
Born (1899-09-30)30 September 1899
Died 19 April 1983(1983-04-19) (aged 83)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Royal Air Force
Rank Lieutenant
Unit No. 4 Naval Squadron RNAS/No. 204 Squadron RAF
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant Robert MacIntyre Gordon (30 September 1899 19 April 1983) was a Glasgow-born seventeen-year-old World War I flying ace. He was credited with nine aerial victories as a Sopwith Camel pilot for the Royal Naval Air Service in 1918.

Early life

Robert MacIntyre Gordon was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 30 September 1899.[1]

World War I

During World War I, Gordon became a Sopwith Camel fighter pilot for 4 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service. He remained with this unit when it was incorporated into the Royal Air Force as 204 Squadron. Between 30 June and 27 October 1918, he scored nine aerial victories and won a Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery. His DFC was gazetted on 2 November 1918:

"In three months this brilliant young pilot has destroyed or driven down eight enemy machines. On all occasions he displays remarkable gallantry and dash, never hesitating to fly to the assistance of other pilots when they are in difficulties. In one combat his action saved his flight commander."[2]

Combat record

List of aerial victories[1]
No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 30 June 1918
@ 1430 hours
Sopwith Camel
serial number D1868
German reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Zeebrugge
2 30 June 1918
@ 1440 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D1868
Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Zeebrugge
3 31 July 1918
@ 1930 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D8146
Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Northeast of Ypres
4 12 August 1918
@ 1055 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D9498
Fokker D.VII Destroyed Blankenberghe
5 12 August 1918
@ 1055 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D9498
Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Blankenberghe
6 15 August 1918
@ 1900 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D8145
Fokker D.VII Set afire; destroyed Menen Victory shared with Charles Hickey
7 15 August 1918
@ 1900 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D8145
Fokker D.VII Set afire; destroyed Menen
8 3 September 1918
@ 1150 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D8146
Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Geluveld
9 27 October 1918
@ 0910 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n F3929
Fokker D.VII Set afire; destroyed South of Ghent

Post World War I

Gordon qualified as a doctor in 1924. He was awarded a DSO and GM for his service during World War II. He died on 19 April 1983.[3]

Endnotes

  1. 1 2 "Robert MacIntyre Gordon". The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  2. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30989. p. 12966. 1 November 1918.
  3. "Robert MacIntyre Gordon". ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2014. (subscription required (help)).


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 5/14/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.