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. 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 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.

Gordon and Bill Staton (standing) with their Bristol Fighter, No. 62 Squadron RFC, Cachy, France, in 1918. He was then attached to No. 62 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, to fly in the Bristol F.2b two-seater fighter. where Gordon was paired with Captain Bill Staton as his pilot. ) 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 him "ace" status, came on 1 April.

Staton and Gordon shared another victory with Captain Thomas L. Purdom and Lieutenant Percival Chambers on 21 April. Gordon went on to gain five more victories in May, and another four up to 8 June, for a total of fifteen.

Gordon then returned to England recommence his pilot training, being posted to the No. 1 School of Military Aeronautics at Reading on 13 July, He graduated in February 1919, and on 12 March was posted to No. 8 Training Squadron AFC.

World War II Gordon joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1939, on the outbreak of the Second World War, with the rank of flight lieutenant, first serving as a recruiting officer in Adelaide, and subsequently taking the first intake of the Empire Air Training Scheme to Canada. Gordon was promoted from squadron leader to wing commander in February 1942, and served as the Commanding Officer of the No. 3 Initial Training School at Kingaroy, Queensland.

Death and memorial Gordon died on 11 December 1978 at the Daw Park Repatriation Hospital after a long illness, being Australia's last surviving First World War ace. He is buried in Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, South Australia.