Wing Co. John Arthur Gerald "Pete" Gordon
Royal Air Force 350 Squadron
from:Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
(d.1st June 1942)
Arthur Gordon was my great uncle. He was born in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, on 3rd March 1912. He joined the RCAF on 2nd July 1935 and transferred to the RAF in June 1936. He was a Pilot Officer by 22nd July 1936; a Flying Officer 22nd January 1937; an Acting Flight Lieutenant 22nd July 1938; a Flight Lieutenant 22nd January 1939; a Squadron Leader on 1st March 1940 and a Wing Commander on 1st December 1941. He was lost with no grave on 1st June 1942.
Arthur was in 19th Fighter Squadron from 25th October 1936 until 31st May 1939, including when the unit was the first to receive the Spitfire, in 1938. After that, he bounced around a bit according to what I have for military records. There were two stints at the School of Air Navigation, at Station Leuchars on 27th December 1939, but I'm not sure what unit he was attached to. Then he was at HQ for No 61 Group, and No 7 Op Training Unit, before Joining 151 Squadron as Squadron Leader on 29th July 1940, command 8th August. On 11th August, Arthur damaged a Ju 87. On 14th August, Arthur destroyed an Me 109. On 15th August Arthur was wounded in the head and leg during a dogfight with 109s, but made it home.
On 18th August Arthur was forced to bail out of his Hurricane, which was on fire. that day was the so-called bloodiest day of the Battle of Britain, with the most losses suffered in a single day by both sides. Arthur spent a few weeks in hospital as a result of his burns, and was apparently offered the chance to go home, but he refused. He then bounced around again. I wish I knew which Squadrons - his service records only list the stations: HQ No 50 Group, Station Penhros, No 58 Op Training Unit, HQ Fighter Command on 9th February 1942, Station Kenley, Station Tangmere.
Arthur's last posting was as Wing Commander of Debden Wing as of 7th March 1942, as C/O of No 65 and 350 squadrons. On 1st June 1942, he was leading 350 Squadron on operations over Belgium, escorting bombers, piloting Spitfire BL 936 "White 1". The Squadron was heavily engaged by 20 FW 190s, and Arthur was separated from the Squadron and never returned. A search party was later sent, but he was never found.
Medals: 1939/45 Star, Battle of Britain Clasp, Aircrew Europe Star, War Medal 1939/45. John Arthur Gerald Gordon is remembered at the Runnymede Memorial.
If anyone has any additional information, or ideas as to how to find more details about his military career, especially with which other squadrons he may have flown, I would love to know.
