World War II Honoree

George W. Gordon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Mobeetie, Texas

DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 1943, HE COMPLETED BOMBARDIER TRAINING AND AERIAL GUNNER SCHOOL. AT AGE 20, BECAME SQUADRON BOMBARDIER OF THE 717TH SQUADRON OF THE 449TH HEAVY BOMBER GROUP CONSISTING OF FIFTY B-24 AIRCRAFT. HIS GROUP BEGAN FLYING MISSIONS IN EARLY JANUARY 1944. HE FLEW FIVE MISSIONS AS SQUADRON BOMBARDIER AND EIGHT MISSIONS AS LEAD BOMBARDIER FOR THE 449TH GROUP. HIS PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN BY FLAK OVER AVIANO, ITALY ON JANUARY 31, 1944. EIGHT OF THE ELEVEN CREW MEMBERS PARACHUTED TO SAFETY ONLY TO BE CAPTURED AND SENT TO GERMAN POW CAMPS. HE SPENT 15 MONTHS IN STALAG LUFT 1. RETURNED HOME IN JUNE OF 1945.