Gordon Budd Irving
Encyclopedia
Captain Gordon Budd Irving was a World War I flying ace
credited with twelve aerial victories.
, he was briefly employed by National Trust Company.
in May, 1917 and sent to Camp Borden for training. He shipped out for England in July 1917. By November of that year, he had been trained and posted to 19 Squadron. He was assigned a Sopwith Dolphin to fly.
Irving scored his first aerial victory on 24 March 1918; by 2 July, his count was up to three enemy planes destroyed and eight driven down out of control. During five of these victories, he had teamed with other aces, including Cecil Gardner
, Finlay McQuistan
, John Aldridge
, James Hardman, and fellow Canadian Albert Desbrisay Carter
. Irving had also risen to the position of Flight Commander in May.
fighter for his ninth out of control victory. Irving was reported as missing in action, as three Dolphins went down that day, one of them on fire. Irving's body was not recovered.
His Officer Commanding, Major D. J. Pretyman, wrote “...he is a great loss to my squadron as he was loved by all the officers and men, besides being a very gallant gentleman and always ready to do his best.” The Prince of Wales posthumously awarded the DFC to Irving's sister, Mrs. Kathleen Purves. The most likely claimants for victory over Irving were either Justus Grassmann
or Alois Heldmann
.
Lt. (T./Capt.) Gordon Irving.
He has carried out numerous offensive patrols, and under his able leadership many enemy formations have been successfully engaged. He has personally accounted for six enemy aircraft, and by his consistent keenness and fearlessness he sets a fine example to the pilots in his squadron.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with twelve aerial victories.
Early life
Gordon Budd Irving was the sole son of attorney William Henry Irving and Mary Maude Smith Irving. His childhood home was at 76 Spadina Street, Toronto; he attended church nearby at Trinity Methodist Church (present-day Trinity-Saint Paul’s United). After education at the Huron Street Public School and University of Toronto SchoolsUniversity of Toronto Schools
The University of Toronto Schools is an independent secondary day school affiliated with the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
, he was briefly employed by National Trust Company.
World War I service
Irving then joined the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
in May, 1917 and sent to Camp Borden for training. He shipped out for England in July 1917. By November of that year, he had been trained and posted to 19 Squadron. He was assigned a Sopwith Dolphin to fly.
Irving scored his first aerial victory on 24 March 1918; by 2 July, his count was up to three enemy planes destroyed and eight driven down out of control. During five of these victories, he had teamed with other aces, including Cecil Gardner
Cecil Gardner
Captain Cecil Vernon Gardner was a World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories.Cecil was born in or near Banbury c1888, the son of James and Hannah Elizabeth Gardner, who raised him at Grovehill Farm in the parish of Tingewick, near Buckingham. He enlisted in the British Army in...
, Finlay McQuistan
Finlay McQuistan
Captain Finlay McQuistan was a World War I flying ace who was credited with 11 aerial victories.-Early life:Finlay McQuistan is the son of Finlay and Agnes J...
, John Aldridge
John Aldridge
John William Aldridge is a former Republic of Ireland international footballer and football manager...
, James Hardman, and fellow Canadian Albert Desbrisay Carter
Albert Desbrisay Carter
Albert Desbrisay Carter DSO & Bar was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with 28 victories.-Early life and career:Albert Desbrisay Carter was born in Point de Bute, New Brunswick....
. Irving had also risen to the position of Flight Commander in May.
Decoration and death
On 3 August, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Eight days later, in a dogfight during a patrol, he drove down a Pfalz D.IIIPfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
fighter for his ninth out of control victory. Irving was reported as missing in action, as three Dolphins went down that day, one of them on fire. Irving's body was not recovered.
His Officer Commanding, Major D. J. Pretyman, wrote “...he is a great loss to my squadron as he was loved by all the officers and men, besides being a very gallant gentleman and always ready to do his best.” The Prince of Wales posthumously awarded the DFC to Irving's sister, Mrs. Kathleen Purves. The most likely claimants for victory over Irving were either Justus Grassmann
Justus Grassmann
Leutnant Justus Grassmann was a World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories—seven enemy airplanes and three observation balloons....
or Alois Heldmann
Alois Heldmann
Colonel Alois Heldmann was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 confirmed aerial victories while he was a leutnant. He later joined the Luftwaffe and was a flying school inspector.-Early life:...
.
Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Lt. (T./Capt.) Gordon Irving.
He has carried out numerous offensive patrols, and under his able leadership many enemy formations have been successfully engaged. He has personally accounted for six enemy aircraft, and by his consistent keenness and fearlessness he sets a fine example to the pilots in his squadron.
Reference
- Franks, Norman. Dolphin and Snipe Aces of World War 1. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 978-1-84176-317-0, 9781841763170.
- Shores, Christopher F. et al. Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9, 9780948817199.