[Donald Gordon oral history interview (Part 1 of 2)]

In this two-part oral history, fighter ace Donald Gordon discusses his military service with the United States Navy during World War II. In part one, he describes his experiences as a fighter pilot and his time with Fighting Squadron 10 (VF-10) in the Pacific Theater. Topics discussed include his missions in the South Pacific, his aerial victories, and his time stationed aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6). Special focus on his participation in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942.

Donald Gordon was born on July 17, 1920 in Garland, Kansas. He joined the United States Navy in 1941 and graduated from flight training the following year. A member of Fighting Squadron 10 (VF-10), Gordon served aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6) during his combat tours in the Pacific Theater. He participated in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942 and the Battle of the Philippine Sea, also known as the Marianas Turkey Shoot, in June 1944. Gordon remained in the military after the war and went on to serve with the Navy’s first all-jet fighter squadron. He retired as a captain in 1967 and passed away in 2010.