William Gordon Claxton

William Gordon Claxton DSO, DFC & Bar (June 1, 1899 – September 28, 1967) was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with 37 victories. He became the leading ace in his squadron.

Background

Born on June 1, 1899, in Gladstone, Manitoba, Claxton enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in Canada upon his eighteenth birthday in 1917. After pilot's training at Camp Borden, he was assigned to No. 41 Squadron in France the following March flying S.E.5a aircraft. Claxton arrived on the Western Front late in the war but he had a run of victories that saw him emerge from the war as his squadron's most successful airman. He claimed 37 air victories in 79 days during the war's final year. This meteoric career was marked by several multiple victory days. His calmness under fire earned him the nickname "Dozy". It also led him into situations where his planes experienced battle damage. In June 1918 alone, he crash-landed once and brought home shot planes twice.

Career as a fighter pilot

Claxton opened his tally of 'kills' on May 27, 1918, in the skies above East Estaires, downing a German Fokker Dr.I aircraft. The following day he brought down two Pfalz D.III aircraft.

Between June 12 and June 30, Claxton successfully downed 17 German aircraft plus an observation balloon. Thirteen of these planes fell in a four-day stretch, from June 27 through June 30. On June 30, alone he brought down six enemy aircraft. On that incredible day, he flamed a Pfalz D.II, destroyed two Albatros D.Vs, and drove another Pfalz D.III down out of control — all before lunch. In the afternoon, he destroyed yet another Pfalz D.III and shot a DFW C model down in flames.

By the end of July, he had increased his total to 27.