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______________________________________________________ Canadian Fighter Pilots Get Biggest Bag of HunsLondon, Jan 2 1945 (CP) - Canadian fighter pilots accounted
for at least half of the 94 German plane destroyed by the RAF's 2nd Tactical
Air Force New Year's Day when the Luftwaffe made an attempt to cripple
west front airfield operations. ______________________________________________________ GORDON, F/L Donald Campbell (J16633) - Distinguished Flying
Cross - No.442 Sq. This officer has displayed the highest standard of skill and resolution in his attacks on the enemy. Among his successes is the destruction of four enemy aircraft. Two of these he shot down recently in an engagement against a large force of enemy fighters. Flight Lieutenant Gordon was wounded and his aircraft badly damaged but he effected a successful crash-landing.
______________________________________________________ CANADIAN SPITFIRE SQUADRON
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| 27 May 1942* 21 June 1942* 14 July 1942* 3 Aug 1942 31 Aug 1942* 1 Sep 1942* 4 Dec 1942* 27 Feb 1943 13 Mar 1943* 17 Mar 1943 19 Apr 1943* 21 Apr 1943 1 Jan 1945 8 Feb 1945 25 Feb 1945 16 Apr 1945 27 Apr 1945 2 May 1945 |
one Ju87 one Me109 one MC202 one MC202 one Me109 one Me109 one Me109 one Me109 one Ju87 one Ju88 one Me109 one MC202 one Ju87 one Me109 one Re2001 two FW.190s 2.5 Ju.87s one Me109 1/2 Ju88 1/2 FW190 one He115 one Fi.156 |
probable destroyed & probable damaged destroyed & damaged (not claimed) (saw strikes, not claimed) damaged & damaged probable [a] damaged probable probable [not in logbook] destroyed damaged [b] destroyed destroyed [c] destroyed & destroyed [d] destroyed OTW destroyed |
12 / 4 / 5 plus 5 / 0 / 3 OTG (His total although not everything is in his logbook)
10 / 5 / 5 plus 1 On The Water (C. Shores and C. Williams, Aces High 2nd Ed.)
[a] Logbook note says "hit sea and bounced off" [b] "Guns jammed when I was 200 yards away - right up his bum - damn !" [c] "Squadron bumped into five Stukas and shot down the bunch. I got 2½ confirmed. Doyle got 1½ and Barker got one." [d] Aces High 2nd Ed. states, "He and his wingman attacked this composite which separated. He then shot down the Ju88 (which was, of course, pilotless), whilst his wingman shot down the FW190. They were credited with a shared victory over a single composite aircraft." check out his logbook war total for yourself
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Check out a few other
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The following quoted from Hugh Halliday's Research "Air
force Honours & Awards"
a very handy resource found at the Air
force Association of Canada's web site :
NOTE: On 28 September 1949, AFHQ wrote to CJS Washington:
19878 F/L Donald Campbell Gordon (formerly J166633) whose death occurred recently wore ribbon of American Distinguished Flying Cross on his uniform. No record can be found at this HQ of such an award having been conferred on this officer. From verbal information received this award was presumably granted sometime between 1942-44 while he served with an RAF squadron (either 274 or 601) in Africa which liaised closely with American forces in same sector and awards were granted by General Officer Commanding US Forces to a number of personnel in the squadron in appreciation of operational cooperation. Cannot verify this from either Records files or personnel here. Neither can record of actual presentation of insignia be found. Request to contact appropriate USAF department and endeavor to establish whether any record of DFC to F/L Gordon can be found. Next of kin making inquiries regarding presentation and contents of citation.
AFCS wrote to AFHQ, 6 October 1949:
Check of US records in Washington reveals no record of award of American Distinguished Flying Cross to late F/L D.C. Gordon. US authorities continuing search by contacting Records Unit at St. Louis. Information has been received that RCAF officer by name of Perkins served with F/L Gordon in the Middle East and it is suggested that this officer be contacted with view of obtaining helpful information. As soon as additional information is received it will be dispatched.
Ink minute on this document, initialed by S/L K.S. Ball, reads:
NOTE: All Gordon's files and honour's and awards files have been carefully perused but no record or no mention of an American DFC can be found. Also, statements compiled by Gordon himself, i.e. R.332, etc. on doc. file do not show award of American DFC.
Note on file indicates that S/L Ball, on TD to Vancouver, discussed this with W/C G.W. Northcott on 29 October 1949:
W/C Northcott was unable to throw any light on the matter, and stated that his association with this officer was after the period mentioned in para 2 above, i.e. as he recollects it was towards the end of the war in France and Germany, and later with the Occupational Forces in Germany. He was not aware of the circumstances surrounding the award of the American DFC.
Letter to F/L Max Perkins (Victoria, 19 November 1949); Perkins replies on 23 November 1949; letter reads in part:
To my knowledge "Chunky" received no award while in the Middle East or Italian theatre. He had left (274) Squadron prior to Americans becoming active in the Middle East. There were no American awards to 601 Squadron during our tour of operations. We also served on 442 Squadron in 126 Wing in Holland. Here again I am not aware of any American citations.
Don became Commanding Officer of either 402 or 412 Squadron TAF in March or April 1945. This is the only place I know where the award could have been received...
I saw "The Chunk" in Saskatoon in October 1946 and at that time he was wearing the American Flying Cross. Don told me that the award was received after the war for liaison work on the Continent while in TAF during the latter part of the war.
Letter to George Keefer, 2 December 1949 and reply of 6 December 1949; unable to supply information; suggests Houle, PRO McGillvary, McBrien, Mitchner, Turner.
2 December 1949 - Air Attache, CJS Washington to AFHQ:
Advice received that further check of USAF and US Army Air Corps records do not reveal the award of American Distinguished Flying Cross to late F/L D.C. Gordon.
However this office is informed by USAF Records Section that during visits of General Spaatz to various theatres of war American DFCs were awarded by him personally without any record being forwarded to the United States. It is suggested that SCAFLO [?] be contacted in an effort to ascertain if this information might be available at USAF Overseas Record Section.
AFHQ to AMCJS, London, 14 February 1950:
Air Attache Washington has suggested that your HQ contact United States Air Force Overseas Records Section in endeavor to ascertain whether any record can be found of award of American Distinguished Flying Cross to late 19878 F/L Donald Campbell Gordon (formerly S/L J16630). Prior to his death in 1949 this officer wore American DFC ribbon on his uniform but no record can he found here or Washington of such award having been officially conferred on this officer. Washington suggest award may have been made by General Spaatz during visit to various war theatres and no record forwarded United States. Gordon was attached to RAF and served with 274 and 601 Squadrons in Middle East. He also served with 417, 442 and 402 Squadrons in Italian and European theatres. Possibly Air Ministry also may have such record of such an award. Any further details required will be supplied on request. Advise.
AMCJS London to AFHQ, Ottawa, 18 February 1950:
This unit has checked with Honour's and Awards Section in Air Ministry and Honour's and Awards Section of the American Air Attache's Office in London but there is no record at either of award of American DFC to 19878 F/L Donald Campbell Gordon. The view is held at both offices that if award was given by General Spaatz for an outstanding feat in the field it is possible that through error same would not have been recorded although they point out that this happened on only few occasions. If the latter were the case they further point out that officer would have been given copy of covering orders and citation and same may be in possession of next of kin...
Matter referred to Air Historian to check squadron records (16 February 1950); W/C Hitchins writes (21 February 1950):
1.The record books of Nos.417, 442, 411 and 402 Squadrons have been examined for the pertinent periods. The honour's and awards files of RCAF Middle East, Nos.402 and 442 Squadrons have also been searched (No honour's and awards files are held for Nos.417 or 411 Squadrons). No mention could be found of the award of an American DFC to the subject officer.
2.The only reference which might have any possible relation to the matter is an item in the daily diary of No.442 Squadron under date 8 February 1945. It mentions that A/M R. Leckie visited the wing (No.126) accompanied by A/V/M R.R. Collard, W/C H.R. Hamilton, and Colonel E. Gerrard, 9th USAAF Liaison Officer.
3.On the day of the visit F/L Gordon destroyed 2 1/2 enemy aircraft. (A month previously, on 1 January 1945, he had destroyed two enemy aircraft - an act for which he was awarded the British DFC). Is it possible that during the visit Colonel Gerrard, in view of F/L Gordon's feat that day, made some mention of an American DFC ? Would he have authority to recommend (or confer) decorations ?...
Minute on the memo says, of para 3, "Considered most unlikely Liaison Officer would have such authority". A minute by S/L K.E. Ball, dated 6 March 1950, indicates that his widow will be asked if she has found anything in his effects "that would be a clue to establishing entitlement to this award". Nothing further on file.
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Greg Maslen (he's Merritt Gordon's son-in-law and the Gent who sent me much of the info on this page) informs me there is no mention of an American DFC in Gordon's logbook. Here's a quote from a much earlier correspondence I had with Greg:
"I have read Donald's Gordon's flight
log from front to back. While he identifies receiving the DFC and
then later the DFC bars, there is no mention of any American awards
in the log. In the log book there is a letter from Donald's older
sister (Margaret), the recipient of the letter being Donald's younger
brother (Merritt). Both Margaret and Merritt served in the forces.
Margaret mentions in her letter that she had heard about this American
award business, but indicates that she herself never saw Donald
wearing any American decorations. Donald's younger brother does
not think that Donald would have ever accepted an American award.
However, Merritt has possession of Donald's ribbons, and it is his
intention to have them (at some point) properly identified and displayed.
Maybe that will finally put an end to the question. In the meantime, there is some very interesting information in Donald's log, about him being shot down several times, his automobile accident in the jeep that put him in the hospital for several weeks, and his own totals of damages inflicted on the enemy (airplanes shot down, planes damaged, planes destroyed on the ground, number of trains destroyed and damaged, military vehicles destroyed, etc. It is my intention to summarize this information and forward it to you, in case you might want to add it to your site." |
Then a few weeks ago I get this letter:
"I know there has been some debate in the past about whether or not Donald "Chunky" Gordon received and/or wore the American DFC. Today we made a discovery. Donald's younger brother, Merritt Gordon & I have been planning to journey to Comox for the May 21st weekend. We will be visiting the museum in Comox, and partaking in the open house event for the Y2K Spitfire project on the 21st of May. We will be bringing Donald's log book with us so that it can be put on display for the day. In preparation for this event. Merritt has gathered together Chunky's medals, ribbons and citations. He is having these all mounted and framed, and will be bringing the display to Comox for that weekend. Today Merritt took the medals and ribbons to a military expert in Peterborough, and one of the ribbons has indeed been identified as the American DFC. This issue has been subject of debate in the past, and several years back, Chunky's older sister, Margaret did some research but was unable to confirm anything. Today's discovery of the US DFC is, in my mind, significant and worth reporting to others. I have no idea how Donald received the American DFC, or who awarded it to him, but we have finally confirmed that Donald had the ribbon and likely wore it." |
So they found the ribbon, what about the medal? And while we're at it, what about the name?
"No actual medal can be located, but the
DFC ribbon was part of the larger strip of ribbons that Donald wore.
With respect to the nickname "Chunky" this was a wartime nickname. Donald was about 6' 2" and quite broad in the frame. Merritt thinks the nickname was given because Donald had difficulty fitting into the Spitfire cockpit. Merritt is getting Donald's medals, citations and ribbons mounted for display. He hopes to bring the display out to Comox for May 21st. Once completed we'll take a couple of photos and send them to you. (& he did! See below) |
Thanks Greg!
So, although no medal was found to go along with the ribbon, there were some pictures located that are worth noting. One, in particular, check it out ...
A Vancouver officer of the RCAF escorted the daughter of the President
of the United States at a recent wedding in Washington. Shown left to
right, among the crowd leaving Epiphany Episcopal Church in the American
capital, are: Miss Margaret Truman; Mrs. Harry Truman: Miss Truman's escort,
Fl/Lt Don Gordon of Vancouver; and Mrs. Truman's escort, Fl/Lt James Davis
of Winnipeg. They had attended the wedding of F/O C. George Mattusch,
RCAF, of Elmira, Ont., and Miss Anita Cajigas of Washington. (AP PHOTO)
Apparently, Gordon claimed to have been given the DFC
after the war, for liaison work, done late in the war. Seems to me he
was in a position that required he be most honorable, reliable and trustworthy.
People like this do not wear medals they were not given. Greg says the
US DFC is part of the strip Don wore. So although you cant see it, he's
probably wearing it in this picture. Now ask yourself, would this man
risk his reputation and career (not to mention the embarrassment if caught)
wearing a bogus medal when he has plenty of real ones to wear? Because
in his position that's what he would be doing. Imagine running around,
in an official capacity, representing your country, sportin a bogus DFC
ribbon of the country you're visiting! I don't think so.
I'd still like to know where, or from whom, he got it though.
Sept 27, 2006 - I got more scans from Greg. Very very
nice. This will take awhile to go through and add ... hmm, I might just
put them all in a folder for you-all's perusal ... I'll think about it.
There's even a pic from the Chunk's personal photo's of fellow ace Tex
Pieri that came in real handy.
Let me say that after going through them carefully, there's no doubt he
wore the US DFC on his uniform all the time. At his wedding, at the above
wedding and in official portraits, he's wearing it.
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the Chunk and Company. That's him in the middle
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Don's Wings etc. and photo PL-18482 |
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and the same things in Ribbon form :
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--- Canadian Aces ---
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For additional details see H.A. Halliday, The Tumbling Sky.
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On
these pages I use info from the Air
force Association of Canada's web site
in Hugh Halliday's excellent Honors & Awards section,
Newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation
(CMCC)
as well as other sources both published and private
and on this page -
Thanks go to Greg Maslen & Merritt Gordon for sending me the scans
and photos !!
the Last Patrol by Lance Russwurm (You wanna know? Click on it !)
