George Gardiner (RAF officer)

George Cecil Gardiner
Born (1892-03-28)28 March 1892
Poona, India
Died 30 July 1940(1940-07-30) (aged 48)
Helmieh, Egypt
Buried at Cairo War Memorial Cemetery
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service c.1906–1940
Rank Group Captain
Unit
Commands held No. 216 Squadron RAF
RAF Helwan
Battles/wars World War I
Iraqi Revolt
World War II
Awards Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross
Légion d'honneur
Croix de guerre

Group Captain George Cecil Gardiner DSO, DFC (28 March 1892 – 30 July 1940) was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]

Biography

Background and early life

Gardiner was born in Poona, India, the son of Colour Sergeant Charles Gardiner of the Worcestershire Regiment,[2] and Beatrice Gardiner (née Delahay).[3] He attended the Duke of York's Royal Military School in Dover, Kent, from 1901 until 1906, then joined the Army.

World War I

Gardiner was serving as a corporal in the 16th (The Queen's) Lancers when on 10 September 1915 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant "for service in the field" in the Royal Irish Regiment.[4] On 21 May 1916 he was seconded for service with the Machine Gun Corps,[5] and on 6 October he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer (observer) on 15 December.[6] He served with No. 14 Squadron RFC in the Middle East,[7] before training as a pilot, and he was appointed a flying officer on 24 June 1917.[8] On 1 July he was promoted to lieutenant,[9] and was assigned to No. 47 Squadron RFC, serving on the Macedonian Front. He gained his first victory there on 1 October, over Beles, flying a B.E.12, by driving down an Albatros C out of control.[1] He was wounded in action later in October, but soon returned to flying[2] as he was credited with destroying an Albatros D.III in November, while flying a DH.2.[1] Gardiner gained this victory while repelling an attack, and even though his gun jammed on the fourth shot, infantry below belatedly confirmed the kill.[7]

On 1 April 1918 the Army's Royal Flying Corps was merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force, and the same day Gardiner was one of a number of pilots from No. 47 and No. 17 Squadrons transferred to form a new unit, No. 150 Squadron RAF, based at Salonika.[2] On 3 June, in the King's birthday honours list, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross,[10] and on the 6th, now flying a Sopwith Camel, he gained his third victory, accounting for another Albatros D.III over Mravinca. He then destroyed a Albatros D.V on 12 June, near Pardovica, and another Albatros C east of Cestovo on 25 June, to gain "ace" status. On 28 June he was appointed acting captain,[11] and gained his sixth and final victory on 3 September, with another Albatros D.V destroyed west of Cerniste.[1]

Inter-war career

Gardiner remained in the RAF post-war, being appointed an acting captain for a second time on 1 May 1919,[12] and being made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, and receiving the Croix de guerre, from France.[2][3] He was promoted from flying officer to flight lieutenant on 1 January 1922,[13] while serving with No. 84 Squadron in Iraq. He then returned to the UK, and was posted as a supernumerary officer at the RAF Depot (Inland Area) on 31 March 1922.[14] On 27 August he was posted to the Headquarters of No. 7 Group (Inland Area) for personnel staff duties.[15] Gardiner was then assigned to No. 2 Flying Training School at RAF Duxford on 1 March 1924.[16] On 28 July 1927 he was assigned to the Air Ministry to serve in the Directorate of Training,[17] and between 5 July and 10 October 1928 he was seconded for duty in Estonia.[18][19] After a short time at the RAF Depot at RAF Uxbridge,[20] he returned to the Air Ministry Directorate of Training on 21 December 1928.[21]

Gardiner was promoted to squadron leader on 14 May 1930,[22] and on 2 January 1931 was posted to No. 55 Squadron based at RAF Hinaidi in Iraq.[23] On 23 June he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order "in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Iraq".[24] Gardiner was posted to No. 4 Flying Training School at RAF Abu Sueir in Egypt, as Chief Flying Instructor, on 23 October 1934,[25] and also served as an instructor at RAF Hendon in 1935.[26] In June 1936 he was selected for retention on the active list up to the age of 48, which would be in 1940.[27] On 1 January 1937 he was promoted to wing commander,[28] and on the 11th was appointed commander of No. 216 (Bomber Transport) Squadron based at Heliopolis.[29]

World War II

Gardiner was promoted to group captain on 1 March 1940,[30] but "died on active service"[31] at Helmieh Hospital[2] on 30 July 1940 while serving as station commander at RAF Helwan, and was buried at the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.[3] He was survived by his wife Kathleen August Lyle Gardiner of Tiverton, Devon.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "George Cecil Gardiner". The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cockerill, A. W. (2011). "1940 George Cecil Gardiner DSO, DFC". Duke of York's School. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Gardiner, George Cecil". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29335. p. 10371. 19 October 1915.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29874. p. 12454. 19 December 1916.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29976. p. 2383. 9 March 1917.
  7. 1 2 Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. London, UK: Grub Street. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30225. p. 8169. 10 August 1917.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30444. p. 13461. 21 December 1917.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30722. p. 6519. 31 May 1918.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30808. p. 8627. 23 July 1918.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 31527. p. 10894. 29 August 1919.
  13. ↑ "New Year Honours". Flight. XIV (680): 12. 5 January 1922. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XIV (699): 289. 18 May 1922. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  15. ↑ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XIV (713): 489. 24 August 1922. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  16. ↑ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XVI (796): 183. 27 March 1924. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XIX (972): 571. 11 August 1927. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  18. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33404. p. 4823. 17 June 1928.
  19. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33458. p. 466. 18 January 1929.
  20. ↑ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XX (1035): 943. 25 October 1928. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  21. ↑ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXI (1046): 35. 10 January 1929. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  22. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33605. p. 2966. 13 May 1930.
  23. ↑ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXIII (1152): 87. 23 January 1931. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  24. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33728. p. 4079. 23 June 1931.
  25. ↑ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXVI (1350): 1179. 8 November 1934. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  26. ↑ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXVII (1363): 154. 7 February 1935. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  27. ↑ "Extensions of Service". Flight. XXIX (1433): 636. 11 June 1936. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  28. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34356. p. 17. 1 January 1937.
  29. ↑ "Royal Air Force: Appointments". Flight. XXXI (1468): 144. 11 February 1937. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  30. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34810. p. 1472. 12 March 1940.
  31. ↑ "Royal Air Force: Casualties". Flight. XXXVIII (1652): 156. 22 August 1940. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
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