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Name: Paulistano Gordon Fox Rule
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Croix de Guerre [France]
George Clifton Peters
Country: England
Rank: Captain
Service: Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
Unit: 49
Victories: 7
Born: 16 August 1898
Place of Birth: São Paulo, Brazil
Died: 10 June 1987
Place of Death: São Paulo, Brazil
 
 
The son of a Brazilian father and British mother, Gordon Fox Rule was born in Brazil but raised in England. He attended Eastbourne College from January 1914 to December 1916. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and was posted to 49 Squadron in January 1918, becoming a flight commander and Captain on 15 May 1918. Before returning to the Home Establishment on 14 August 1918, he scored seven victories flying D.H.4 and D.H.9 aircraft. In 1921, he resigned his commission in the Royal Air Force due to ill health.

Despite a strong accent, Gordon Fox Rule was fluent in Portuguese and very proud of the fact that he was a true Brazilian. At the age of thirty, he returned to Brazil where he would receive the 17th Brazilian brevet. Before his death in 1987, he sent all his mementos, photos and documents from World War I and his flying career to the Imperial War Museum in London.
 
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Lieut. (T./Capt.) Gordon Fox-Rule.
   Whilst on a bombing raid this officer dived to 100 feet and obtained a direct hit on a bridge, completely destroying it. Seeing a body of the enemy on the bank of the river he attacked them, causing them to disperse in disorder. He was then attacked by five biplanes; these he drove off, though his observer had been hit twice, and he landed safely at a French aerodrome. In all, he has taken part in thirty bomb raids and ten photographic reconnaissances, invariably displaying a marked offensive spirit.
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 08 Mar 1918 1315 49 D.H.4 (A7705) 1 Rumpler C (OOC) Brebières
2 10 Mar 1918 1400 49 D.H.4 (A7705) 1 LVG C (OOC) Marquion
3 07 Jun 1918 1045 49 D.H.9 (D5576) 2 Albatros D.V (OOC) Flavy-le-Martel
4 10 Jun 1918 0440 49 D.H.9 (D1715) 2 Albatros D.V (DESF) Assainvillers
5 10 Jun 1918 0440 49 D.H.9 (D1715) 2 Albatros D.V (OOC) Assainvillers
6 25 Jul 1918 1900 49 D.H.9 (D1715) 3 Fokker D.VII (OOC) Fismes
7 09 Aug 1918 1700 49 D.H.9 (D1715) 4 Fokker D.VII (OOC) Marchélepot

1 Observer 2Lt Philip Holligan
2 Observer Lt E H Tredcraft
3 Observer Lt R A V R Scherk
4 Observer 2Lt S P Scott
 
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