John Rutherford Gordon
Wing Commander John Rutherford Gordon (18 June 1895 – 11 December 1978) was an Australian First World War flying ace credited with fifteen aerial victories while serving as an observer/gunner in the Australian Flying Corps. Early life and background Gordon was born in Gilberton, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, the son of the politician David John Gordon. He was brought up in Unley, and educated at Adelaide High School and St Peter's College. While at school he spent six years as a member of the Cadet Corps, and then a year as member of Citizens Forces, serving in the 74th Infantry Regiment. On the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914 he was working a clerk. World War I On 20 August 1914 Gordon enlisted into the 10th Battalion at Morphettville, South Australia. On 28 August, on account of his previous military experience, he was promoted to the rank of acting sergeant, and this was confirmed on 1 September. On 20 October the 10th Battalion sailed from Adelaide aboard HMAT Ascanius (A11) eventually disembarking in Egypt. After further training the battalion sailed as part of the 3rd Brigade to the Greek island of Lemnos in early March 1915. Gordon, with the rest of 3rd Brigade, sailed from Lemnos on 24 April 1915, landing at Anzac Cove at Gallipoli early the following day. As a sergeant in No. 1 Section, No. 1 Platoon, "A" Company, Gordon served as a Battalion Scout and was amongst the first men ashore. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Section at the end of June, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 4 August. On 20 August Gordon was invalided out of Galliopi, and was admitted to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital at Port Said, Egypt, on the 24th suffering from enteric fever. He was sent home to Australia to recuperate arriving there on 17 October aboard HMAT Ceramic. On 8 March 1916 he was passed as medically fit for duty and assigned to recruiting work. On 26 April 1917 he applied to join the Australian Flying Corps, and on 1 May was appointed a second lieutenant in the AIF, allotted to the AFC. Gordon began pilot training at RAAF Point Cook, which he was unable to complete for medical reasons. However, on 21 June Gordon embarked aboard HMAT Suevic (A29) at Melbourne, and sailed for England, arriving at Liverpool on 26 August. On 4 September Gordon was posted to the AFC Depot at Halton Camp, and on 28 December was appointed a flying officer (observer). He was then attached to No. 62 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, to fly in the Bristol F.2b two-seater fighter. No. 62 Squadron moved to France in January 1918, where Gordon was paired with Captain Bill Staton as his pilot. Gordon gained his first aerial victory (Staton's third) on 21 March 1918, and followed it with a triple victory on the 26th. Gordon was promoted to lieutenant on 28 March 1918. His fifth victory, which earned