Robert MacIntyre Gordon

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. Postwar, he became a medical doctor.

Robert MacIntyre Gordon
Nickname(s)"Bobby"
Born(1899-09-30)30 September 1899
Died19 April 1983(1983-04-19) (aged 83)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
Royal Air Force
RankLieutenant
UnitNo. 4 Naval Squadron RNAS/No. 204 Squadron RAF
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

Early life

Robert MacIntyre Gordon was born in Queen's Park, Glasgow, Scotland on 30 September 1899.[1][2]

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.[3]

On 29 September 1918, he was wounded and hospitalized. Freed from bed rest in early October, he was sent on leave. Upon return to duty, he scored his last victory on 27 October but was wounded again in the process. He sat out the rest of the war.[2]

Combat record
See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I
List of aerial victories[1][2]
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 Blankenberge
5 12 August 1918
@ 1055 hours		 Sopwith Camel
s/n D9498		 Fokker D.VII Driven down out of control Blankenberge
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.[4]

Endnotes
  1. "Robert MacIntyre Gordon". The Aerodrome. 2014.
  2. Shores et al, p. 172.
  3. "No. 30989". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 November 1918. p. 12966.
  4. "Robert MacIntyre Gordon". ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2014.

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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