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| Name: |
William Gordon "Dozy" Claxton |
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| Country: |
Canada |
| Rank: |
Captain |
| Service: |
Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force |
| Units: |
41 |
| Victories: |
37 |
| Born: |
01 June 1899 |
| Place of Birth: |
Gladstone, Manitoba |
| Died: |
28 September 1967 |
| Place of Death: |
Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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William Gordon Claxton entered the Royal Flying Corps in 1917. An S.E.5a pilot, he was assigned to 41 Squadron on the Western Front in March 1918. Beginning in May, the 19 year old pilot scored 37 victories in 79 days and became the highest scoring ace in his squadron. On the morning of 17 August 1918, Claxton's flight, under the command of Frederick McCall, encountered Jasta 20 while patrolling the front. In the ensuing battle, Claxton was shot down behind enemy lines by Johannes Gildemeister. Suffering from a serious head wound, he was captured east of Wervicq. The immediate skills of a German doctor saved his life and Claxton was repatriated on 1 December 1918. Upon his return to Canada, he became a journalist. |
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| Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) |
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.
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| Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) 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.
(D.F.C. gazetted 3rd August, 1918.)
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| Distinguished Service Order (DSO) |
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.
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
27 May 1918 |
1915 |
41 |
S.E.5a (B38) |
Fokker DR.I (OOC) |
E of Estaires |
| 2 |
28 May 1918 |
1145 |
41 |
S.E.5a (B38) |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Oppy-Gavrelle |
| 3 |
28 May 1918 |
1415 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D3927) |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Estaires |
| 4 |
12 Jun 1918 |
1345 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6120) |
C (OOC) |
Caix |
| 5 |
13 Jun 1918 |
0950 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6120) |
DFW C (DES) |
Bois de Champien |
| 6 |
16 Jun 1918 |
2010 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6125) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Grevillers |
| 7 |
17 Jun 1918 |
0915 |
41 |
S.E.5a (C8879) |
Balloon (DES) |
Chuignes |
| 8 |
17 Jun 1918 |
0945 |
41 |
S.E.5a (C8879) |
Pfalz D.III (DES) |
E of Combles |
| 9 |
27 Jun 1918 |
2015 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6120) |
Halberstadt C (DES) |
Goyencourt |
| 10 |
27 Jun 1918 |
2040 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6120) |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Bray |
| 11 |
28 Jun 1918 |
2010 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6186) |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Bray-Péronne |
| 12 |
28 Jun 1918 |
2010 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6186) |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Bray-Péronne |
| 13 |
28 Jun 1918 |
2015 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6186) |
Fokker D.VII (OOC) |
W of Péronne |
| 14 |
29 Jun 1918 |
1915 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6186) |
Pfalz D.III (DES) |
S of Maricourt |
| 15 |
29 Jun 1918 |
1940 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6186) |
Fokker D.VII (OOC) |
Chaulnes |
| 16 |
30 Jun 1918 |
0815 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6120) |
Pfalz D.III (DESF) |
Bray |
| 17 |
30 Jun 1918 |
0820 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6120) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
E of Maricourt |
| 18 |
30 Jun 1918 |
0845 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6120) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
W of Cappy |
| 19 |
30 Jun 1918 |
0845 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6120) |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Caix |
| 20 |
30 Jun 1918 |
1750 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6120) |
Pfalz D.III (DES) |
E of Mametz Wood |
| 21 |
30 Jun 1918 |
1830 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6120) |
DFW C (DESF) |
W of Proyart |
| 22 |
02 Jul 1918 |
2020 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6125) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Lamotte |
| 23 |
04 Jul 1918 |
1330 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6065) |
Fokker DR.I (OOC) |
Proyart |
| 24 |
04 Jul 1918 |
1400 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6065) |
Pfalz D.III (DES) |
E of Harbonnières |
| 25 |
05 Jul 1918 |
2015 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D6000) |
Pfalz D.XII (DES) |
S of Cappy |
| 26 |
30 Jul 1918 |
1240 |
41 |
S.E.5a (F5910) |
Albatros C (DES) 1 |
Guillancourt |
| 27 |
31 Jul 1918 |
1210 |
41 |
S.E.5a (E1309) |
Albatros C (DES) 1 |
Pozieres |
| 28 |
01 Aug 1918 |
0800 |
41 |
S.E.5a (C1895) |
Albatros C (DES) |
E of Vignaucourt |
| 29 |
01 Aug 1918 |
0820 |
41 |
S.E.5a (C1895) |
Hannover C (OOC) |
E of Moreuil |
| 30 |
01 Aug 1918 |
2040 |
41 |
S.E.5a (F5910) |
DFW C (OOC) |
E of Albert |
| 31 |
08 Aug 1918 |
1530 |
41 |
S.E.5a (F5910) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
E of Chuignes |
| 32 |
09 Aug 1918 |
0745 |
41 |
S.E.5a (F5910) |
Balloon (DES) |
NE of Bray |
| 33 |
09 Aug 1918 |
1625 |
41 |
S.E.5a (F5910) |
Fokker D.VII (DESF) |
E of Estrées |
| 34 |
10 Aug 1918 |
2015 |
41 |
S.E.5a (F5910) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
S of Mametz |
| 35 |
11 Aug 1918 |
2030 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D3921) |
Fokker D.VII (DES) |
Estrées |
| 36 |
12 Aug 1918 |
0930 |
41 |
S.E.5a (D5984) |
Fokker D.VII (OOC) |
N of Bayonvillers |
| 37 |
13 Aug 1918 |
0800 |
41 |
S.E.5a (F5910) |
Halberstadt C (OOC) |
Cappy-Frise |
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| 1 |
Shared with Capt Frederick McCall |
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