Robert MacIntyre Gordon


Lieutenant Robert MacIntyre Gordon 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.

Early life

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

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:
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.

Combat record

No.Date/timeAircraftFoeResultLocationNotes
130 June 1918
@ 1430 hours
Sopwith Camel
serial number D1868
German reconnaissance planeDriven down out of controlZeebrugge
230 June 1918
@ 1440 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D1868
Fokker D.VIIDriven down out of controlZeebrugge
331 July 1918
@ 1930 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D8146
Fokker D.VIIDriven down out of controlNortheast of Ypres
412 August 1918
@ 1055 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D9498
Fokker D.VIIDestroyedBlankenberghe
512 August 1918
@ 1055 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D9498
Fokker D.VIIDriven down out of controlBlankenberghe
615 August 1918
@ 1900 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D8145
Fokker D.VIISet afire; destroyedMenenVictory shared with Charles Hickey
715 August 1918
@ 1900 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D8145
Fokker D.VIISet afire; destroyedMenen
83 September 1918
@ 1150 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n D8146
Fokker D.VIIDriven down out of controlGeluveld
927 October 1918
@ 0910 hours
Sopwith Camel
s/n F3929
Fokker D.VIISet afire; destroyedSouth 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.

Endnotes