William Gordon Claxton

Infobox Military Person
name=William Gordon Claxton


caption=
born=June 1 1899
died=28 September 1967
placeofbirth= Gladstone, Manitoba
placeofdeath= Toronto
nickname=Dozy
allegiance=George V [Canadian airmen were required to complete an Attestation Paper in which they declared an oath of allegiance to King George the Fifth and agreed to serve in any arm of the service for the duration of the war between Great Britain and Germany. [http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/attestation/index.php aerodrome.com] ]
branch=Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
serviceyears=
rank=
unit=No. 41 Squadron RAF
commands=
battles=
awards=Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
relations=
laterwork=

William Gordon Claxton DSO, DFC & Bar (June 1 1899 - 28 September 1967) was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with 37 victories. He became the leading ace in his squadron.

Born at Gladstone, Manitoba, Claxton enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in Canada upon his eighteenth birthday in 1917. After pilot's training at Camp Borden he was assigned to No. 41 Squadron in France the following March flying S.E.5a aircraft. Claxton arrived on the Western Front late in the war but he had run of victories that saw him emerge from the war as his squadron's most successful airman. He claimed 37 air victories in 79 days during the War's final year. This meteoric career was marked by several multiple victory days. His calmness under fire earned him the nickname "Dozy". It also led him into situations where his planes experienced battle damage.

Claxton opened his tally of 'kills' on 27 May 1918 in the skies above East Estaires, downing a German Fokker Dr.I aircraft. The following day he brought down two Pfalz D.III aircraft. Between 12-30 June Claxton successfully downed 17 German aircraft plus an observation balloon. Thirteen of these planes fell in a four day stretch, from 27 through 30 June. On 30 June alone he brought down six enemy aircraft. On that incredible day, he flamed a Pfalz D.II, destroyed two Albatros D.Vs, and drove another Pfalz D.III down out of control--all before lunch. In the afternoon, he destroyed yet another Pfalz D.III and shot a DFW C down in flames.

By the end of July he had increased his total to 27. 3 August 1918 Claxton was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. By that time, his victory list had grown to 30.

On 17 August 1918 Claxton was shot down by Leutnant Johannes Gildemeister during an encounter with Jasta 20 in which he and fellow pilot Frederick McCall were outnumbered 20-to-1; by this time he had amassed 37 air successes. Claxton crash-landed behind enemy lines with a serious head wound and was only saved by prompt attendance of a German doctor, who performed cranial surgery.

Claxton's final score was 2 observation balloons destroyed, 16 aircraft driven down out of control, and 19 aircraft destroyed. Two of the planes he destroyed were shared victories with Squadron 41's second ranking ace, Frederick McCall.

He remained a prisoner of war until the armistice. Claxton was repatriated on 1 December 1918. Returning to his homeland Claxton, who had received a Bar to his DFC and the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) took up a career as a financial journalist.

He died in Toronto on 28 September 1967, aged 68. He was cremated.

Text of citations

Distinguished Flying Cross

"Lt. William Gordon Claxton.This officer at all times shows fine courage and disregard of danger. He has accounted for six enemy aeroplanes and one kite balloon, three of the aeroplanes being destroyed and three driven down out of control. On a recent occasion, having destroyed a hostile balloon, he pursued an enemy scout ten miles and eventually drove it down; he was then attacked by five enemy triplanes and other scouts, but managed to return to our lines, though his machine was riddled with bullets."

Distinguished Flying Cross - Bar

"Lieut. William Gordon Claxton, D.F.C.This officer is conspicuous for his courage in attack. Recently in one day he destroyed six enemy aeroplanes—four in the morning and two in the evening. In thirteen days he accounted for fourteen machines. His utter disregard of danger inspires all who serve with him."

Distinguished Service Order

"Lieut. William Gordon Claxton, D.F.C.Between 4th July and 12th August this officer destroyed ten enemy aeroplanes and one kite balloon, making in all thirty machines and one "kite balloon to his credit. Untiring in attack in the air or on the ground, this officer has rendered brilliant service."

References

Norman Franks, "SE 5/5a Aces of World War I", Osprey Publishing, 2007/

Notes

External links