War Stories with Preston and Sayre12 Sep 2020

LTJG Nathan Gordon (Patrol Squadron 34) 09FEB1944, Bismarck Sea

15FEB1944: Serving with Patrol Squadron 34 based out of New Guinea, LTJG Nathan Gordon and his men were regularly tasked with the challenging mission of rescuing downed American pilots in the vast Pacific Ocean.

During an attack on the island of Kavieng on February 15th a handful of A-20's and B-25's had been shot down and the call went out for a potential rescue mission. LTJG Gordon and his crew, flying the 'Arkansas Traveler' PBY Catalina, took off in hopes of saving the downed American pilots.

Escorted by a group of fighters, Gordon landed between waves nearly 20 feet tall to search the first pile of wreckage for survivors. Unsuccessful and taking on water, he took back off but was quickly notified that some survivors had been found a short distance away. Within range of enemy fire, Gordon twice landed and pulled aboard the surviving airmen. In both instances, having to shut off his engines to complete the rescue.

Taking off with a full load and low on fuel, a call came in that an additional life raft had been spotted, a mere 600m from the Japanese gun positions. Without hesitation, Gordon spun his aircraft around, buzzed the enemy position at low altitude, landed and picked up an additional six airmen. Now overweight with 24 men on board, Gordon successfully fought the plane to get airborne and not crash into the oncoming waves.

LTJG Gordon and his crew were able to save 15 downed airmen that day that would have otherwise perished at sea or been taken prisoner by the Japanese. For his incredible bravery in rescuing those men, LTJG Nathan Gordon would be awarded the Medal of Honor. Gordon would survive the war and go on to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas for twenty years.

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