Frederick Stanley Gordon

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.

Frederick Stanley Gordon
Nickname(s)"Freddie"
Born(1897-10-29)29 October 1897
Died27 July 1985(1985-07-27) (aged 87)
AllegianceNew Zealand
Service/branchAviation
RankLieutenant
UnitNo. 74 Squadron RAF
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross, Belgian Croix de guerre

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 Victory shared with Harold Goodman Shoemaker
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 Victory shared with Andrew Kiddie Gordon and another pilot
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 [2][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.[2][3]

Endnotes
  1. "Frederick Stanley Gordon". Theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  2. "Frederick Stanley Gordon". Theaerodrome.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  3. Shores et al, p. 172.
  4. "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 3 JUNE, 1919". London-gazette.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  5. "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 15 JULY, 1919". London-gazette.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2016.

References
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.


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