279:"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."
287:"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."
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were outnumbered 20-to-1; by this time he had amassed 37 air successes. In this dogfight, he brought down three enemy planes before being hit. 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.
295:"Lieut. William Gordon Claxton, D.F.C. Between 4 July and 12 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."
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late in the war but he had a 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
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Between June 12 and June 30, Claxton successfully downed 17 German aircraft plus an observation balloon. Thirteen of these planes fell in a four-day stretch, from June 27 through June 30. On June 30, alone he brought down six enemy aircraft. On that incredible day, he flamed a
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Claxton's final score was two observation balloons destroyed, 16 aircraft driven down out of control, and 19 aircraft destroyed. Two of the planes he destroyed were shared victories with 41 Squadron's second ranking ace,
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nickname "Dozy". It also led him into situations where his planes experienced battle damage. In June 1918 alone, he crash-landed once and brought home shot planes twice.
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until the armistice. Claxton was repatriated on
December 1, 1918. Returning to his homeland Claxton, who had received a Bar to his DFC and the
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Claxton opened his tally of 'kills' on May 27, 1918, in the skies above East
Estaires, downing a German
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170:(RFC) in Canada upon his eighteenth birthday in 1917. After pilot's training at
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and appointed flight commander. By that time, his victory list had grown to 30.
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credited with 37 victories. He became the leading ace in his squadron.
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Canadian recipients of the
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
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He died in
Toronto on September 28, 1967, aged 68. He was cremated.
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Christopher Shores, Mark Rolfe. Osprey
Publishing, 2001.
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Canadian
Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
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263:(DSO) took up a career as a financial journalist.
203:aircraft. The following day he brought down two
230:Johannes Gildemeister during an encounter with
226:On August 17, 1918, Claxton was shot down by
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492:World War I prisoners of war held by Germany
512:People from Central Plains Region, Manitoba
144:(June 1, 1899 – September 28, 1967) was a
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502:Canadian prisoners of war in World War I
409:Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2007.
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421:British and Empire Aces of World War I
389:British and Empire Aces of World War I
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127:Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar
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186:aircraft. Claxton arrived on the
482:Canadian World War I flying aces
283:Distinguished Flying Cross - Bar
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316:"Who's Who - William Claxton"
234:in which he and fellow pilot
166:, Claxton enlisted with the
507:Royal Flying Corps officers
407:SE 5/5a Aces of World War I
372:SE/5/5a Aces of World War I
291:Distinguished Service Order
261:Distinguished Service Order
182:the following March flying
123:Distinguished Service Order
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275:Distinguished Flying Cross
221:Distinguished Flying Cross
195:Career as a fighter pilot
162:Born on June 1, 1899, in
355:"William Gordon Claxton"
135:William Gordon Claxton
174:, he was assigned to
91:Years of service
448:www.theaerodrome.com
444:"WWI Aces of Canada"
164:Gladstone, Manitoba
113:No. 41 Squadron RAF
43:Gladstone, Manitoba
16:Canadian flying ace
168:Royal Flying Corps
81:Royal Flying Corps
52:September 28, 1967
437:978-1-84176-377-4
270:Text of citations
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245:Frederick McCall
236:Frederick McCall
215:, destroyed two
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54:(1967-09-28)
40:June 1, 1899
477:1967 deaths
472:1899 births
205:Pfalz D.III
201:Fokker Dr.I
172:Camp Borden
149:World War I
94:1917 - 1918
29:Nickname(s)
466:Categories
453:2008-06-20
400:References
321:2024-04-13
213:Pfalz D.II
207:aircraft.
158:Background
152:flying ace
65:Allegiance
251:Post war
232:Jasta 20
228:Leutnant
146:Canadian
75:Service/
103:Captain
59:Toronto
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184:S.E.5a
180:France
119:Awards
77:branch
433:ISBN
425:ISBN
411:ISBN
109:Unit
99:Rank
49:Died
37:Born
32:Dozy
178:in
138:DSO
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.