John Everard Gurdon
Encyclopedia
John Everard Gurdon, DFC
& Bar
, (24 May 1898 – 14 April 1973), was a British
flying ace
in World War I credited with twenty-eight victories.
in Kent
. He joined the Army
in 1916, attending Sandhurst
in September of that year.
and was transferred to the RFC
in May 1917. He completed his pilot training at Central Flying School
and was sent to No.22 Squadron
in 1918, flying Bristol F.2 Fighter
s.
Gurdon achieved all twenty-eight of his victories flying the Bristol Fighter aircraft, seventeen of them using the front gun. On 7 May 1918 he was involved in an historic engagement known as the 'Two versus Twenty'. Gurdon, together with his observer 2/Lt. John Thornton, in partnership with one other Bristol Fighter aircraft, piloted by Alfred Atkey
with his observer Charles George Gass
engaged twenty enemy aircraft. Gurdon and Thornton shot down three enemy aircraft; Atkey and Gass shot down five enemy aircraft.
On 10 June 1918 his aircraft was badly shot up, Gurdon being hit by a bullet in the left arm, and his gunner, Lt. J.J. Scaramaga, being killed. In August he received concussion from an anti-aircraft shell near-miss. He returned to the Uk in September 1918 and reliquished his commission in December of that year.
His claim tally, in conjunction with his gunners, consisted of 13 and one shared destroyed, and 14 'out of control'.
Gurdon married in 1921 and had three sons, one of which, Sgt. John Robert Gurdon, was killed in action in 1943 flying Wellingtons of No.166 Squadron. Another son, Philip Gurdon, flew Spitfires in Burma.
John Gurdon died on 14 April 1973 in Alassio
, Italy.
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, (24 May 1898 – 14 April 1973), was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
in World War I credited with twenty-eight victories.
Background
Gurdon attended Tonbridge SchoolTonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. He joined the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1916, attending Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
in September of that year.
Involvement in World War 1
Gurdon was commissioned into the Suffolk RegimentSuffolk Regiment
The Suffolk Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army with a history dating back to 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the Royal Norfolk Regiment as the 1st East Anglian Regiment in 1959...
and was transferred to the RFC
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
in May 1917. He completed his pilot training at Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
and was sent to No.22 Squadron
No. 22 Squadron RAF
No. 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Sea King HAR.3 and HAR.3A at three stations in the southern United Kingdom. The squadron was originally formed in 1915 as an aerial reconnaissance unit of the Royal Flying Corps serving on the Western Front during First World War...
in 1918, flying Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
s.
Gurdon achieved all twenty-eight of his victories flying the Bristol Fighter aircraft, seventeen of them using the front gun. On 7 May 1918 he was involved in an historic engagement known as the 'Two versus Twenty'. Gurdon, together with his observer 2/Lt. John Thornton, in partnership with one other Bristol Fighter aircraft, piloted by Alfred Atkey
Alfred Atkey
Alfred Clayburn Atkey MC & Bar was a Canadian First World War pilot.-Early life:Atkey was born in Toronto, Ontario. His family headed west to a town called Minebow, Saskatchewan in 1906. He returned to Toronto to work at the Toronto Evening Telegram as a journalist...
with his observer Charles George Gass
Charles George Gass
Squadron Leader Charles George Gass MC was the highest scoring observer ace during the First World War, with a total of 39 victories scored serving as a gunner flying with various pilots...
engaged twenty enemy aircraft. Gurdon and Thornton shot down three enemy aircraft; Atkey and Gass shot down five enemy aircraft.
On 10 June 1918 his aircraft was badly shot up, Gurdon being hit by a bullet in the left arm, and his gunner, Lt. J.J. Scaramaga, being killed. In August he received concussion from an anti-aircraft shell near-miss. He returned to the Uk in September 1918 and reliquished his commission in December of that year.
His claim tally, in conjunction with his gunners, consisted of 13 and one shared destroyed, and 14 'out of control'.
Gurdon married in 1921 and had three sons, one of which, Sgt. John Robert Gurdon, was killed in action in 1943 flying Wellingtons of No.166 Squadron. Another son, Philip Gurdon, flew Spitfires in Burma.
World war II
Despite being blinded in one eye after a car crash in 1935 and suffering a hip problem following an aircraft landing accident, Gurdon rejoined the RAF at the outbreak of war, serving as an instructor. He managed to fly on several bombing operations unofficially as a front gunner on Wellingtons, but after a landing accident aggravated his existing hip problem he was invalided out of the service.John Gurdon died on 14 April 1973 in Alassio
Alassio
Alassio is a town and "comune" of 11.312 inhabitants in the province of Savona situated in the North West of Italy and approximately 80 km from the French border.Alassio is known for its natural beauty and scenic views...
, Italy.