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Gordon, William Campbell DFC (Flying Officer)

Killed in Action 1943-September-03

Birth Date: 1913-April-27 (age 30)

Born: Owen Sound, Ontario

Son of Russel Grimby and Euphemia Stewart (nee Campbell) Gordon of Owen Sound, Ontario. Brother of Josephine and Margaret Gordon.

Home: Owen Sound, Ontario

Enlistment: Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment Date: 1940-11-22

Decorations: DFC


Distinguished Service Cross
Service
RCAF
Unit
156 Sqn- Squadron
Rank
Flying Officer
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Navigator
Service Numbers
J/16260
Born in Owen Sound, Ontario, 1913; home there. Enlisted in Toronto, 22 November 1940. Trained at No.2 ITS (graduated 26 July 1941), No.5 BGS (graduated 4 August 1941), No.5 AOS (graduated 21 June 1941), and No] CNS (graduated 1 September 1941). Commissioned 1941 156 Squadron (We Light The Way), Pathfinder Force. Lancaster aircraft crashed. F/O Gordon was with 101 Squadron in a Wellington aircraft when he was shot down and wounded off the Dutch Coast on August 18, 1942. Please see Cobbett C.H. for operations detail and casualty list. F/O Gordon also survived a crash landing in a 101 Squadron Lancaster aircraft on January 23, 1943. They had been attacked by an enemy fighter aircraft over the target and crashed at East Wretham, Kent, England. Addendum: - P/O Gordon was 30 years old at time of death, not 22. GORDON, P/O William Campbell (116260) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.101 Squadron - Award effective 1 July 1943 as per London Gazette dated 13 July 1943 and AFRO 1724/43 dated 27 August 1943. The citation reads - "Throughout his operational sorties with this squadron this officer has proved himself to be a very determined and skillful navigator who has displayed commendable courage and resource in hazardous circumstances. In August 1942 he was one of a crew whose aircraft was forced down at sea following an attack by enemy fighters. After eleven hours in the dinghy they were eventually rescued, though Pilot Officer Gordon was injured. On another occasion while on a sortie to Essen this officer's aircraft was badly damaged by night fighters. The rear gunner was killed and another member of the crew wounded. Throughout all these perilous experiences, however, Pilot Officer Gordon has combined tenacity with endurance and displayed skill worthy of high praise." Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Crew on Lancaster Mk.III JA915

Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster Mk. X RCAF Serial FM 213
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stirling, all three aircraft being four-engined heavy bombers adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the same wartime era.

The Lancaster has its origins in the twin-engine Avro Manchester which had been developed during the late 1930s in response to the Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 for a capable medium bomber for "world-wide use". Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester (which had proved troublesome in service and was retired in 1942), the Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick and powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins and in one version, Bristol Hercules engines. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. As increasing numbers of the type were produced, it became the principal heavy bomber used by the RAF, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and squadrons from other Commonwealth and European countries serving within the RAF, overshadowing the Halifax and Stirling. Wikipedia

YouTube Lancaster Bomber

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General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (234), RCAF 6 Group (5), RCAF 400 Squadron (7), Canadian Aircraft Losses (1732)
last update: 2021-09-18 14:32:33

Lancaster Mk.III JA915

With No. 156 Sqn (GT-U). Participated in the raid on Peenemunde 17/18 Aug 1943. Crashed while on an air gunnery exercise near East Wretham, Norfolk 3 Sep 1943.

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