GORDON, F/L Donald Campbell (J16633) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.442 Squadron - Award effective 23 February 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1453/45 dated 14 September 1945. Born in Edmonton, 25 February 1920. Home in Vancouver. Enlisted in Vancouver, 25 October 1940. Posted to No.2 Manning Depot, 25 October 1940; to No.6 AOS (non-flying duties), 4 December 1940; to No.2 ITS, 28 January 1941 (graduated 3 March 1941 and promoted LAC); to No.8 EFTS, 3 March 1941 (graduated 22 April 1941); to No.10 SFTS, 2 May 1941 (graduated16 July 1941 and promoted Sergeant). To “Y” Depot, Halifax, 17 July 1941. Posted overseas on 8 August 1941. On strength of No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, 31 August to 18 September 1941. To No.53 OTU, 19 September 1941 until 4 November 1941. Posted to No.65 Squadron, 4 November 1941. Promoted Flight Sergeant, 1 March 1942. Taken on strength of Almaza, 21 March 1942. To No.1 ADU, 30 March 1942; to No.25 PDC, 1 June1942; to No.274 Squadron, 27 June 1942. Promoted WO2, 1 September 1942. Commissioned 16 September 1942; to No.601 Squadron, 6 October 1942; promoted Flying Officer, 16 March 1943; to No.417 Squadron, 30 October 1943; with No.11 FIS, Wadi Fayid, 1 December 1943 to 1 February 1944 when he returned to No.417 Squadron. Returned to Britain, 5 July 1944. Embarked for leave in Canada, 11 August 1944; promoted to Flight Lieutenant, 16 September 1944. Returned to Britain and posted to No.83 Group, 30 October 1944. To No.442 Squadron, 22 November 1944; appointed Flight Commander, 8 February 1945 to 19 March 1945. Posted to No.411 Squadron, 19 March 1945; to No.402 Squadron, 15 April 1945 vice S/L D.C. Laubman (missing). Promoted to Squadron Leader, 15 April 1945. Commanded until disbandment, July 1945. Attended Fighter Leader School, Tangmere, August 1945. 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 Flight Lieutenant. On strength of No.14 (Photo) Squadron, 1 April 1946 to 29 December 1947; with AFHQ, 30 December 1947 to 1 January 1948; with Canadian Joint Staff, Washington, 2 January to 25 April 1948; to AFHQ, 25 April 1948, Died in hospital, Montreal, 26 April 1949, following brain surgery. Chris Shores, Aces High (2nd edition) has complete victory list although the claims marked with an asterix are recorded only in his logbook (not in squadron records): 22 May 1942*, one Ju.87 probably destroyed; 21 June 1942*, one Bf.109 destroyed plus one MC.202 probably destroyed; 14 July 1942*, one MC.202 damaged; 8 August 1942, one Bf.109 destroyed; 1 September 1942*, one Bf.109 damaged plus one Ju.87 damaged; 4 December 1942*, one Ju.88 proably destroyed; 27 February 1943, one Bf.109 damaged; 13 March 1943*, one MC.202 probably destroyed; 17 March 1943, one Ju.87 probably destroyed; 19 April 1943*, one Bf.109 destroyed plus one Re.2001 damaged; 1 January 1945, two FW.190s destroyed; 8 February 1945, three Ju.87s destroyed (one shared); 25 February 1945, one Bf.109 destroyed; 16 April 1945, one composite aircraft destroyed on ground (Ju.88/Bf.109, shared with another pilot); 27 April 1945, one He.115 destroyed; 3 May 1945, one Fi.156 destroyed. For additional details see H.A. Halliday, The Tumbling Sky. Photographs featuring him are PL-18482 (on right), PL-38709 (after investiture), PL-43121 (among German ruins), PL-43122 (more ruins), PL-43123 (more ruins, these all dated 29 March 1945 and respectively UK-19857, UK-19858 and UK-19859), PL-43124 (ex UK-19860) examining a burned-out German tank and PL-55065 (head and shoulders). RCAF photo PL-10261 (10 April 1943) shows “A group of Canucks and their Spitfire, somewhere in the Western Desert”. These are FS M.A. Perkins (Melfort), FS E.G. Shea (Moose Jaw), FS Don Gordon (Vancouver), FS W.J. Steele (Montreal) and FS F.D. Schofield (Montreal West). Gordon was with No.601 Squadron at the time and the others may also have been in No.601. 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. 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 and AFRO 1478/45 dated 21 September 1945. Trained at No.2 ITS, No.8 EFTS and No.10 SFTS. 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. NOTE: On 28 September 1949, AFHQ wrote to CJS Washington: 19878 F/L Donald Campbell Gordon (formerly J166633) whose death occurred recently wore ribbon of American Distinguished Flying Cross on his uniform. No record can be found at this HQ of such an award having been conferred on this officer. From verbal information received this award was presumably granted sometime between 1942-44 while he served with a RAF squadron (either 274 or 601) in Africa which liaised closely with American forces in same sector and awards were granted by General Officer Commanding US Forces to a number of personnel in the squadron in appreciation of operational cooperation. Cannot verify this from either Records files or personnel here. Neither can record of actual presentation of insignia be found. Request to contact appropriate USAF department and endeavour to establish whether any record of DFC to F/L Gordon can be found. Next of kin making inquiries regarding presentation and contents of citation. AFCS wrote to AFHQ, 6 October 1949: Check of US records in Washington reveals no record of award of American Distinguished Flying Cross to late F/L D.C. Gordon. US authorities continuing search by contacting Records Unit at St.Louis. Information has been received that RCAF officer by name of Perkins served with F/L Gordon in the Middle East and it is suggested that this officer be contacted with view of obtaining helpful information. As soon as additional information is received it will be despatched. Ink minute on this document, initialled by S/L K.S. Ball, reads: NOTE: All Gordon's files and honours and awards files have been carefully perused but no record or no mention of an American DFC can be found. Also, statements compiled by Gordon himself, i.e. R.332, etc. on doc. file do not show award of American DFC. Note on file indicates that S/L Ball, on TD to Vancouver, discussed this with W/C G.W. Northcott on 29 October 1949: W/C Northcott was unable to throw any light on the matter, and stated that his association with this officer was after the period mentioned in para 2 above, i.e. as he recollects it was towards the end of the war in France and Germany, and later with the Occupational Forces in Germany. He was not aware of the circumstances surrounding the award of the American DFC. Letter to F/L Max Perkins (Victoria, 19 November 1949); Perkins replies on 23 November 1949; letter reads in part: To my knowledge "Chunky" received no award while in the Middle East or Italian theatre. He had left (274) Squadron prior to Americans becoming active in the Middle East. There were no American awards to 601 Squadron during our tour of operations. We also served on 442 Squadron in 126 Wing in Holland. Here again I am not aware of any American citations. Don became Commanding Officer of either 402 or 412 Squadron TAF in March or April 1945. This is the only place I know where the award could have been received... I saw "The Chunk" in Saskatoon in October 1946 and at that time he was wearing the American Flying Cross. Don told me that the award was received after the war for liaison work on the Continent while in TAF during the latter part of the war. Letter to George Keefer, 2 December 1949 and reply of 6 December 1949; unable to supply information; suggests Houle, PRO McGillvary, McBrien, Mitchner, Turner. 2 December 1949 - Air Attache, CJS Washington to AFHQ: Advice received that further check of USAF and US Army Air Corps records do not reveal the award of American Distinguished Flying Cross to late F/L D.C. Gordon. However this office is informed by USAF Records Section that during visits of General Spaatz to various theatres of war American DFCs were awarded by him personally without any record being forwarded to the United States. It is suggested that SCAFLO [?] be contacted in an effort to ascertain if this information might be available at USAF Overseas Record Section. AFHQ to AMCJS, London, 14 February 1950: Air Attache Washington has suggested that your HQ contact United States Air Force Overseas Records Section in endeavour to ascertain whether any record can be found of award of American Distinguished Flying Cross to late 19878 F/L Donald Campbell Gordon (formerly S/L J16630). Prior to his death in 1949 this officer wore American DFC ribbon on his uniform but no record can he found here or Washington of such award having been officially conferred on this officer. Washington suggest award may have been made by General Spaatz during visit to various war theatres and no record forwarded United States. Gordon was attached to RAF and served with 274 and 601 Squadrons in Middle East. He also served with 417, 442 and 402 Squadrons in Italian and European theatres. Possibly Air Ministry also may have such record of such an award. Any further details required will be supplied on request. Advise. AMCJS London to AFHQ, Ottawa, 18 February 1950: This unit has checked with Honours and Awards Section in Air Ministry and Honours and Awards Section of the American Air Attache's Office in London but there is no record at either of award of American DFC to 19878 F/L Donald Campbell Gordon. The view is held at both offices that if award was given by General Spaatz for an outstanding feat in the field it is possible that through error same would not have been recorded although they point out that this happened on only few occasions. If the latter were the case they further point out that officer would have been given copy of covering orders and citation and same may be in possession of next of kin... Matter referred to Air Historian to check squadron records (16 February 1950); W/C Hitchins writes (21 February 1950): 1. The record books of Nos.417, 442, 411 and 402 Squadrons have been examined for the pertinent periods. The honours and awards files of RCAF Middle East, Nos.402 and 442 Squadrons have also been searched (No honours and awards files are held for Nos.417 or 411 Squadrons). No mention could be found of the award of an American DFC to the subject officer. 2. The only reference which might have any possible relation to the matter is an item in the daily diary of No.442 Squadron under date 8 February 1945. It mentions that A/M R. Leckie visited the wing (No.126) accompanied by A/V/M R.R. Collard, W/C H.R. Hamilton, and Colonel E. Gerrard, 9th USAAF Liaison Officer. 3. On the day of the visit F/L Gordon destroyed 2 1/2 enemy aircraft. (A month previously, on 1 January 1945, he had destroyed two enemy aircraft - an act for which he was awarded the British DFC). Is it possible that during the visit Colonel Gerrard, in view of F/L Gordon's feat that day, made some mention of an American DFC ? Would he have authority to recommend (on confer) decorations ?... Minute on the memo says, of para 3, "Considered most unlikely Liaison Officer would have such authority". A minute by S/L K.E. Ball, dated 6 March 1950, indicates that his widow will be asked if she has found anything in his effects "that would be a clue to establishing entitlement to this award". Nothing further on file. FURTHER NOTES: In 1947 he compiled a list of the types he had flown, together with the last date flown (date in brackets). These were: Spitfire (6 August 1945) - 719 hours 15 minutes Hurricane (September 1944) - 211 hours 40 minutes Anson (March 1947) - 405 hours ten minutes Harvard (February 1946) - 339 hours 15 minutes Tiger Moth (September 1941) - 51 hours 20 minutes Master (September 1941) - one hour 45 minutes Kittyhawk (June 1944) - 26 hours 50 minutes Mustang (October 1944) - seven hours 25 minutes P-47 (June 1944) - eight hours 30 minutes C-47 (April 1947) - 132 hours 45 minutes Auster (July 1945) - 18 hours 50 minutes Blenheim (May 1943) - four hours 40 minutes Wellington (June 1942) - three hours Oxford (May 1943) - three hours ten minutes Typhoon (October 1944) - four hours 45 minutes Tempest (October 1944) - three hours ten minutes Taylorcraft (June 1944) - nine hours 20 minutes Crane (October 1944) - four hours Junkers 87 (July 1943) - 29 hours 20 minutes Bf.109 (August 1945) - four hours 20 minutes FW.190 (August 1945) - three hours 50 minutes MC.202 (September 1943) - one hour 45 minutes Meteor (June 1945) - 45 minutes His documents included a summary dated 27 July 1945 stating he had flown approximately 400 sorties. He claimed eleven aircraft destroyed, three “probables” and four damaged (plus five aircraft destroyed on the ground), two locomotives destroyed and 56 damaged, ten MET destroyed and 80 damaged, plus six barges damaged. His duties had included ferrying aircraft from West Africa to Cairo, to “Far East” and Turkey (January to May 1942). He had been hit by “friendly flak” on 1 January 1945 while engaging Bf.109s (burst in cockpit). On 28 September 1944 he had ground looped and collapsed the undercarriage of Spitfire NH591 (hit by wind gust on return from a sweep). LOGBOOK NOTES: His first logbook entry was 9 March 1941 at No.8 EFTS, Sea Island (Tiger Moth 4066) and on 22 March 1941 he first soloed on the same machine, having flown nine hours 30 minutes. His last flight there was on 19 April 1941 (Tiger Moth 4242) by which time he had flown 26 hours 45 minutes dual and 29 minutes 25 minutes solo. He commenced flying at No.10 SFTS, Dauphin on 9 May 1941 (Harvard 3785) and his last flight there was 8 July 1941 (79 hours 20 minutes dual and 67 hours 30 minutes solo). At No.53 OTU (Llandow, Wales) he commenced flying on 25 September 1941 (Master 8636) and on 30 September flew Spitfire 6965. His last flight there was 25 October 1941 (Spitfire 4616), having flown 80 hours 15 minutes dual and 107 hours 50 minutes solo. Posted to No.65 Squadron, commencing flying in November 1941 with first operational sortie on 12 December 1941 (convoy patrol). On 26 December 1941 he was shot down on Cherbourg Rhubarb (baled out over Channel, picked up by ASR launch). Flew his last sortie with the unit on 30 December 1941. 28 February 1942 to 2 March 1942 - en route from Taloadi to Cairo via Kano, Maidiguri, Genina, El Tasher, El Obera and Khartoum in a Douglas DB-3 Boston (N18117). 22 March 1942 - passenger in a Wellington, Helipolis to Fiume. 27 March 1942 - practice flight at Wadi Natrum (Hurricane NJ712). 30 March 1942 - practice flight at Wadi Natrum (Hurricane Z5672) 12 April to 22 April 1942 - ferrying Hurricane Z5672 from Wadi Natrun (or Natrrung) to Colombo, Ceylon via Aqir, Habbinyia, Bahrein, Sharja, Jiwami, Karachi, Bombay and Bangalore. 4 May to 6 May 1942 - passenger in DB-3 from Karachi to Lydda (train trip to Karachi had taken six days). 18 May 1942 - first operation with No.274 Squadron. 22 May 1942 - one Ju.87 probably destroyed. 21 June 1942 - one Bf.109 destroyed and one probably destroyed. 3 August 1942 - one Bf.109 destroyed. 1 September 1942 - one Bf.109 damaged and one Ju.87 damaged. 18 October 1942 - flown by Bristol Bombay to hospital in Heliopolis (jaundice). November 1942 - returned to flying. 4 December 1942 - one Ju/88 probably destroyed. 19 December 1942 - last sortie with No.274 Squadron; posted to No.601 Squadron. December flying taken up in Hudson, Stuka, Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft. 28 December 1942 - flew in Hudson to Hamariet with W/C Yaxley, DSO, DFC, MC 16 January 1943 - first operation with No.601 Squadron. (sometimes flying a “tame” Ju.87). 27 February 1943 - one Bf.109 damaged. 13 March 1943 - one MC.202 probably destroyed. 26 March 1943 - crash landed after combat with Bf.109s. 2 April 1943 - Logbook endorsed for an accident this day: “P/O D.C. Gordon, through gross carelessness at El Hamma East on 2-4-43, collided with another Spitfire on the runway, seriously damaging both aircraft” (he was in Spitfire EP694. 19 April 1943 - one Bf.109 destroyed 21 April 1943 - one Re.2001 destroyed 22 May 1943 - to hospital at Tripoli in a Lysander. Posted to No.103 Movement Unit, Aboukir, testing aircraft (Spitfires, Hurricanes, the occasional Oxford,, Anson and Blenheim) between 8 July and 24 July 1943. 26-29 July 1943 - flew Spitfire BE794 from El Adem to Lentini, Sicily via Marble Arch and Borman to join No.601 Squadron. Flying in Sicily, August 1943. 12 August 1943 - Squadron bombed; 18 out of 21 aircraft unserviceable; last sortie with No.601 Squadron. 28 August 1943 - first sortie with No.417 Squadron 15 October 1943 - last sortie with No.417 Squadron 28 October 1943 - flown by DB-3, Foggia to Tunis via Catania. Posted to No.73 OTU, Abu Sueir; flying Harvards, Spitfires, Hurricanes from 20 November 1943 to 23 January 1944 when posted to Central Gunnery School, Ballah (Harvards, Spitfires, Kittyhawks) through to 2 June 1944. 3 June to 9 June 1944; attached to No.9 Squadron, South African Air Force before posting to Canada. 23 and 26 August 1944 - flew Crane LX772 at No.10 SFTS, Dauphin while visiting F/O M.E. Gordon. 4-11 November 1944 - flying Spitfires at No.83 GSU, Tangmere before posting to “B” Flight, No.442 Squadron, Volkel, Holland. 26 November 1944 - first sortie with No.442 (Spitfire IXe, EM742) 28 November 1944 - Spitfire EM941 - undercarriage collapsed on landing. 1 January 1944 - Spitfire “L” (NH728) when he recorded, “Returned early with engine trouble and ran into 60 + FW.190s. I got two and then got clobbered. 16 holes in the body. Crash landed in farmer’s field.” He had been on patrol to Munster. 8 February 1945 - two Ju.87s plus one shared, confirmed on recce north of Ruhr. 25 February 1945 - one Bf.109 destroyed on recce to Munster. 18 March 1945 - last sortie with No.442 Squadron; unit returned to England to re-equip. He was posted to No.411 Squadron. 16 April 1945 - one Ju,88 destroyed on recce to Goldberg. 17 April 1945 - last operation with No.411 Squadron (Spitfire XIV, “D”). Posted to No.402 Squadron to command. 27 April 1945 - one He.115 destroyed on recce to Rostock (possibly flying “K”) 2 May 1945 - one Fi.156 destroyed on recce to Kiel (possibly flyng “K”). 9 June 1945 - in Auster, “Got lost and ran out of petrol. Force landed in field. Finger Trouble.” 12 July 1945 - flew a Meteor. 24 August 1945 - squadron disbanded; returned to Canada. 31 October 1945 - Flying Harvard 271 at Central Flying School, Trenton (instructional flight). Numerous flights in Anson, Cornell, Harvard to 27 January 1946. Posted to No.14 (Photo) Squadron in No.7 Wing, commencing flying on 18 March 1946 in Anson 756 7-8 May 1946 - ferried Anson 12126 to Regina 14-19 May 1946 - ferried Anson 12126 from Regina to Edmonton-Fort Smith- Yellowknife- Embarras. 1 July 1946 - passenger in Lancaster 1271 to Edmonton (pilot was S/L Wiseman, AFC) 4 July 1946 - passenger in Mitchell 892 to Yellowknife (pilot was F/L Middleton, DFC). August to October 1946 - on operations with No.4 Detachment, flying Anson 12126. Sent to Rockcliffe in October 1946 but back to Edmonton, 25-29 January 1947, flying Dakotas on photo ops until November 1947/ 1 June 1948 on Harvard practicing for airshow. 28 October 1948 - last entry. RCAF Press Release No. 731 dated 5 September 1942 reads: A veteran of serial warfare on three widely separated fronts, Flight Sergeant Donald C. Gordon, 22-year-old fighter pilot from West Vancouver, shows definite preferences for his present posting, Egypt, and the Western Desert. Sky warfare for Gordon has taken him into battle over England and France, against the Japs at Ceylon, and also Germans and Italians in the Middle East theatre. Singapore not having fallen, he would have become acquainted with fighter activities in the Far East, for he was posted in that direction when the island fortress fell, and his travels were thus terminated at Ceylon. Gordon, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Gordon, 3812 16th Avenue, West Vancouver, studied Arts at the University of British Columbia prior to enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He did his elementary training in local environment at Sea Island, Vancouver, and gained his wings at Dauphin, Manitoba. His first operational work was with a Spitfire squadron in England, and he engaged in many sweeps over France. Then he headed for a destination which he was never destined to reach Singapore. “I was in Ceylon in time to take part in the great sky battle of Easter Sunday,” admitted Gordon. It was the occasion when the Japs made the mass attack on Colombo, and were turned back by spirited air resistance with heavy losses. “The Japs bombed the airdrome as we took off, but I was away, and managed to gain my height and head for the harbour. I notice a Jap naval “Zero” on the tail of a pal of mine. I immediately jumped him, and fired a few rounds. He blew up in mid-air.” It was his second air victory of the war, Gordon having shot down a ME109 over LeHavre, France, while operating from an English base. Shortly after, he was posted to the Middle East. He had only been with the squadron a short time before getting into action against Axis opposition, coming to grips during a sweep. “I saw a ME109F on the tail of Flight Sergeant T.B. Hamilton, of Winnipeg,” said Gordon. “I was above him, and jumped him before he could make his move. He went crashing to earth. A week later, I had a go at an Italian, but the best I could do was damage a Macchi202.” “It’s been an interesting experience, getting a crack at the enemy from England, Ceylon, and now from Egypt,” he added. “For me, this is my preference, hot as it might be.”