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


AFAA interview with Donald Gordon, Tape 2 of 2
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[Donald Gordon oral history interview (Part 2 of 2)]
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Title

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

Description

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 two, he provides clarifying details regarding his wartime experiences and one of the combat missions discussed in the previous interview. Special focus on his participation in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942.

Date

1990-02-15

Extent

1 sound reel (19 min., 14 sec.) : analog ; 1/4 in

Language

Rights

Bibliographic Citation

The American Fighter Aces Association Oral Interviews/The Museum of Flight

Identifier

2002-02-13_AV_078_01
2002-02-13_AV_078_01_transcription

Interviewee

Biographical Text

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.

Note

This recording is presented in its original, unedited form. Please note that some interviews in this collection may contain adult language, racial slurs, and/or graphic descriptions of wartime violence.