John Rutherford Gordon
Encyclopedia
John Rutherford Gordon MC
(18 June 1895-11 December 1978) was an Australian fighter pilot and ace of World War I
.
As a sergeant No 1 section, A Coy, 10 Battalion he took part in the ANZAC
landings at Gallipoli
, Turkey
, 25 April 1915. He received his commission while serving at Gallipoli
. In August, he was invalided to Australia
and spent a year recuperating and serving as an Intelligence Officer. He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps and undertook flying training at Point Cook, Victoria
.
Returning to England
in 1917, he was medically restricted from completing his flying training so on his own initiative transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
to serve as a gunner on Bristol Fighters
at No 62 Squadron. Teamed with Bill Staton
, he downed 15 enemy aircraft with the aircraft’s single rear gun. He was awarded the Military Cross
for effective ground attack actions during the German March/April 1918 offensives.
In mid 1918, he returned to England to finally complete his flying training and then served as a pilot on the SE5a
. Later, while undertaking a Sopwith Snipe
conversion, the war ended and he returned to Australia.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) as Recruiting Officer in Adelaide
and subsequently took the first intake of the Empire Air Training Scheme to Canada
. From 1942, he served as the Commanding Officer of the No 3 Initial Training School at Kingaroy, Queensland
. He retired from the RAAF in 1945 with the rank of wing commander
.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(18 June 1895-11 December 1978) was an Australian fighter pilot and ace of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
As a sergeant No 1 section, A Coy, 10 Battalion he took part in the ANZAC
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps was a First World War army corps of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force that was formed in Egypt in 1915 and operated during the Battle of Gallipoli. General William Birdwood commanded the corps, which comprised troops from the First Australian Imperial...
landings at Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, 25 April 1915. He received his commission while serving at Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
. In August, he was invalided to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and spent a year recuperating and serving as an Intelligence Officer. He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps and undertook flying training at Point Cook, Victoria
Point Cook, Victoria
Point Cook is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Point Cook had a population of 14,162, now it is estimated that the population of Point Cook is 32,167...
.
Returning to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1917, he was medically restricted from completing his flying training so on his own initiative transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
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...
to serve as a gunner on Bristol Fighters
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...
at No 62 Squadron. Teamed with Bill Staton
William Ernest Staton
Air Vice-Marshal William Ernest Staton CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC & Bar was a British airman who began his career as a First World War flying ace credited with 26 victories. He was transferred to the Royal Air Force on its creation and remained in the RAF during the inter-war years...
, he downed 15 enemy aircraft with the aircraft’s single rear gun. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for effective ground attack actions during the German March/April 1918 offensives.
In mid 1918, he returned to England to finally complete his flying training and then served as a pilot on the SE5a
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Although the first examples reached the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel and it had a much better overall performance, problems with its Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the geared-output H-S...
. Later, while undertaking a Sopwith Snipe
Sopwith Snipe
The Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe was a British single-seat biplane fighter of the Royal Air Force . It was designed and built by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War, and came into squadron service a few weeks before the end of that conflict, in late 1918.The Snipe was not a fast aircraft...
conversion, the war ended and he returned to Australia.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) as Recruiting Officer in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
and subsequently took the first intake of the Empire Air Training Scheme to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. From 1942, he served as the Commanding Officer of the No 3 Initial Training School at Kingaroy, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. He retired from the RAAF in 1945 with the rank of wing commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
.