George Gardiner

Group Captain George Cecil Gardiner (28 March 1892 – 30 July 1940) was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. Background and early life Gardiner was born in Poona, India, the son of Colour Sergeant Charles Gardiner of the Worcestershire Regiment, and Beatrice Gardiner (née Delahay). 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. On 21 May 1916 he was seconded for service with the Machine Gun Corps, and on 6 October he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer (observer) on 15 December. He served with No. 14 Squadron RFC in the Middle East, before training as a pilot, and he was appointed a flying officer on 24 June 1917. On 1 July he was promoted to lieutenant, 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. He was wounded in action later in October, but soon returned to flying as he was credited with destroying an Albatros D.III in November, while flying a DH.2. Gardiner gained this victory while repelling an attack, and even though his gun jammed on the fourth shot, infantry below belatedly confirmed the kill. 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. On 3 June, in the King's birthday honours list, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 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 an 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, and gained his sixth and final victory on 3 September, with another Albatros D.V destroyed west of Cerniste.