Gordon, R.A.

Bobcaygeon boy commands Mandalay raiding force

Wing Cmdr. Ralph Gordon, RCAF, of Bobcaygeon, is officer commanding the latest RCAF squadron to go on operations in support of the British 14th Army’s drive against Mandalay. The squadrons were flown with all personnel to India last September.

Within 24 hours of their arrival at their forward base, after a cross-continental flight from their training station in Northwest India, crews of squadron were airborne, carrying urgent supplies including gasoline, ammunition, rations and priority equipment across the Chin Hills and the Chindwin River to airstrips in the Shwebo and other sectors of the Mandalay front.

In three days, more than 400,000 pounds of these supplies were transported to the army in the squadron’s twin-engined Dakotas, several of the crew making two and three sorties in one day.

Wing Commander Gordon joined the squadron in England last summer. He flew on anti-submarine patrols as a flight commander during 42-43 from Canada’s west coast and later went overseas to join an RCAF squadron flying Albacores and Wellingtons on coastal patrol from United Kingdom bases.