LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer John Irvine GORDON DFC
Service No: 412218
Born: Cessnock NSW, 26 February 1912
Enlisted in the RAAF: 25 May 1941 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 617 Squadron (RAF), RAF Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 10 December 1943 (Citation Title: No. 467 Squadron)
Died: Aircraft Accident: (No. 617 Squadron Lancaster aircraft DV382), England, 13 February 1944, Aged 31 Years
Buried: Coningsby Cemetery, Lincolnshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of David Irvine Gordon and Mildred Gordon, of Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Mary V. S. Gordon, of London, England. B.A., Dip. Ed.
Roll of Honour: Cessnock NSW
Remembered: Panel 122, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cessnock War Memorial, Cessnock NSW
Brother of Flight Sergeant George Wallace Gordon (413852)
On 12 February 1944, Lancaster DV382 took off detailed to carry out an attack on the Antheor Viaduct in Southern France. Having completed its mission, the aircraft was returning to base after refuelling at RAF Station Ford, West Sussex, when it crashed 10 miles north east of Chichester at 0830 hours. Seven on board were killed and Squadron Leader Suggitt was injured, but died of his injuries on 15 February 1944.
The crew members of DV382 were:
Flying Officer Norman James Davidson (J/22514) (RCAF) (Navigator)
Flying Officer John McBride Dempster DFM (J/17206) (RCAF) (Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer John Irvine Gordon DFC (412218) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Stanley George Hall (411775) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Squadron Leader Thomas Williams Lloyd DSO (841330 (RAFVR) (Squadron Intelligence Officer)
Flight Sergeant John Pulford DFM (652403) (RAF) (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant John Paul Riches (1390921) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Squadron Leader William Reid Suggitt DFC (J/15131) (RCAF) (Pilot) Fatally injured, Died 15 February 1944
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/16/271
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line