World War II United States Air Force Soldier. Believed to have been the first American prisoner of war to successfully escape from a German Prisoner of War camp during World War II. He escaped from Stalag VIIA on October 13, 1943. Prior to this he had tried to escape twice, once on a bicycle. Gordon was serving as a ball turret gunner with the Army Air Corp's 305th Bomb Group when his B-17 was shot down over Germany on February 26, 1943. After escaping from the camp, he rode freight trains to France, where a French Resistance group reunited him with the Allied forces. When he returned to the USA he was awarded the Silver Star and traveled the country on a war bond tour. He was featured in a 2000 History Channel documentary, "Escape From A Living Hell." He also served in the Korean and Vietnam wars as a flight engineer before retiring from the Army in 1969.
World War II United States Air Force Soldier. Believed to have been the first American prisoner of war to successfully escape from a German Prisoner of War camp during World War II. He escaped from Stalag VIIA on October 13, 1943. Prior to this he had tried to escape twice, once on a bicycle. Gordon was serving as a ball turret gunner with the Army Air Corp's 305th Bomb Group when his B-17 was shot down over Germany on February 26, 1943. After escaping from the camp, he rode freight trains to France, where a French Resistance group reunited him with the Allied forces. When he returned to the USA he was awarded the Silver Star and traveled the country on a war bond tour. He was featured in a 2000 History Channel documentary, "Escape From A Living Hell." He also served in the Korean and Vietnam wars as a flight engineer before retiring from the Army in 1969.
Bio by: Jennifer M.
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MSGT
US AIR FORCE
WORLD WAR II
KOREA
VIETNAM
SHORTY
Family Members
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