George Gardiner (RAF officer)

Gardiner was born in Poona, India, the son of Colour Sergeant Charles Gardiner of the Worcestershire Regiment,[2] and Beatrice Gardiner (née Delahay).[3] He attended the Duke of York's Royal Military School in Dover, Kent, from 1901 until 1906, then joined the Army.

Gardiner was serving as a corporal in the 16th (The Queen's) Lancers when on 10 September 1915 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant "for service in the field" in the Royal Irish Regiment.[4] On 21 May 1916 he was seconded for service with the Machine Gun Corps,[5] and on 6 October he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer (observer) on 15 December.[6] He served with No. 14 Squadron RFC in the Middle East,[7] before training as a pilot, and he was appointed a flying officer on 24 June 1917.[8] On 1 July he was promoted to lieutenant,[9] and was assigned to No. 47 Squadron RFC, serving on the Macedonian front. He gained his first victory there on 1 October, over Beles, flying a B.E.12, by driving down an Albatros C out of control.[1] He was wounded in action later in October, but soon returned to flying[2] as he was credited with destroying an Albatros D.III in November, while flying a DH.2.[1] Gardiner gained this victory while repelling an attack, and even though his gun jammed on the fourth shot, infantry below belatedly confirmed the kill.[7]

On 1 April 1918 the Army's Royal Flying Corps was merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force, and the same day Gardiner was one of a number of pilots from No. 47 and No. 17 Squadrons transferred to form a new unit, No. 150 Squadron RAF, based at Salonika.[2] On 3 June, in the King's birthday honours list, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross,[10] and on the 6th, now flying a Sopwith Camel, he gained his third victory, accounting for another Albatros D.III over Mravinca. He then destroyed an Albatros D.V on 12 June, near Pardovica, and another Albatros C east of Cestovo on 25 June, to gain "ace" status. On 28 June he was appointed acting captain,[11] and gained his sixth and final victory on 3 September, with another Albatros D.V destroyed west of Cerniste.[1]

Gardiner remained in the RAF post-war, being appointed an acting captain for a second time on 1 May 1919,[12] and being made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, and receiving the Croix de guerre, from France.[2][3] He was promoted from flying officer to flight lieutenant on 1 January 1922,[13] while serving with No. 84 Squadron in Iraq. He then returned to the UK, and was posted as a supernumerary officer at the RAF Depot (Inland Area) on 31 March 1922.[14] On 27 August he was posted to the Headquarters of No. 7 Group (Inland Area) for personnel staff duties.[15] Gardiner was then assigned to No. 2 Flying Training School at RAF Duxford on 1 March 1924.[16] On 28 July 1927 he was assigned to the Air Ministry to serve in the Directorate of Training,[17] and between 5 July and 10 October 1928 he was seconded for duty in Estonia.[18][19] After a short time at the RAF Depot at RAF Uxbridge,[20] he returned to the Air Ministry Directorate of Training on 21 December 1928.[21]

Gardiner was promoted to squadron leader on 14 May 1930,[22] and on 2 January 1931 was posted to No. 55 Squadron based at RAF Hinaidi in Iraq.[23] On 23 June he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order "in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Iraq".[24] Gardiner was posted to No. 4 Flying Training School at RAF Abu Sueir in Egypt, as Chief Flying Instructor, on 23 October 1934,[25] and also served as an instructor at RAF Hendon in 1935.[26] In June 1936 he was selected for retention on the active list up to the age of 48, which would be in 1940.[27] On 1 January 1937 he was promoted to wing commander,[28] and on the 11th was appointed commander of No. 216 (Bomber Transport) Squadron based at Heliopolis.[29]

Gardiner was promoted to group captain on 1 March 1940,[30] but "died on active service"[31] at Helmieh Hospital[2] on 30 July 1940 while serving as station commander at RAF Helwan, and was buried at the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.[3] He was survived by his wife Kathleen August Lyle Gardiner of Tiverton, Devon.[2]