US Navy LT Nathan Gordon: The Heroic Aviation Feats of a WWII Medal of Honor Recipient

Intro

Welcome back everyone.  On this episode of Duty & Valor, you’ll hear the story of a man who volunteered for military service at a time when all knew war was imminent.  A man who displayed a career of flying heroics over a short period of just a few hours.  A man who disregarded danger and made four sea landings in one day to save downed airmen during World War II.  A man whose actions were referred to as “truly one of the most remarkable feats of the war” by a military legend.   This is the story of Medal of Honor Recipient US Navy LT Nathan Gordon. 

Early Life

Nathan Green Gordon was born on Sept. 4th, 1916 in Morrilton, Arkansas.  He was the second of four children born to parents Edward and Ada Gordon.  He went on to graduate high school at the Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, TN, before attending college at Arkansas Polytechnic College.  While there he joined the Arkansas Army National Guard and after graduation, he attended law school at the University of Arkansas.   He graduated in 1939 and was practicing law in his hometown before joining the Navy just months before the US entered World War II. 

Navy Career

In the Navy, Gordon qualified as an aviator and was sent to Norfolk, VA.  There he trained to fly the PBY Catalina Flying Boat.  This twin engine aircraft was a versatile one and it filled many roles during the war.  One of its greatest capabilities was as a rescue plane as it could land on water to spearhead rescue missions.  

During the war, Gordon was assigned to the Black Cats Catalina Patrol and Rescue Squadron, which was based at Samarai Island in Papua New Guinea.  There he commanded a crew of nine aboard a Catalina Flying Boat he named the Arkansas Traveler. 

By 1944 he was a LT Junior Grade and had already been recognized multiple times for his flying skills, including being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.  On February 15th, the Fifth Air Force of the Army Air Forces attacked Japanese positions on the Island of New Ireland in Papua New Guinea.  The attacks consisted of A-20 Havocs of the 3rd, as well as B-25’s of the 38th and 345th Bombardment Groups.  At Kavieng Harbor they faced heavy Japanese anti-aircraft fire and many of the bombers went down.  

Gordon and his crew were on standby when they received word that they were needed to attempt a rescue.  The Arkansas Traveler was escorted to the harbor by four P-47 Thunderbolt Fighters.  Gordon put the plane down in heavy seas with waves breaking 16-18 feet high to search for the crew of a downed A-20.  Under heavy enemy fire from the shore, he and his crew searched the area but couldn’t find any survivors.  With the rough seas, their plane was heavily stressed and it began to take on water, forcing them to end the search.  

Shortly after becoming airborne, Gordon received word that a B-25 had ditched just NorthWest of the harbor.  The B-25 named Gremlin’s Holiday that was piloted by 1st LT Edgar Cavin went down only 400 yards off shore, making a rescue incredibly dangerous as they would be under intense fire from the Japanese on the shore.  As Gordon took his plane down, the four P-47’s and two B-25’s made continuous strafing runs to keep the Japanese from taking aim at the Arkansas Traveler.  Though the attacks on the Japanese positions were able to relieve some of the danger, they still faced heavy fire from gun emplacements on shore.  

The conditions weren’t ideal as the swells were heavy here as well, also up to 18 feet high.  Gordon was forced to cut power to one of his two engines, in a power stall landing, as he couldn’t utilize the full length of a normal landing.  The only benefit that the high swells gave the crew is that the troughs of the waves gave them some cover from the enemy fire.  With some men bailing water out of the fuselage to keep it afloat, the other crewmen rescued the six men of Lt. Cavin’s aircraft.

On their return back to base, they had made it about 20 miles when Gordon received word that another B-25 was forced to ditch in the waters a mile offshore.  The aircraft named Pissonit had a crew of six and was piloted by 1st LT Eugene Benson.  By this time, Gordon lost two of the P-47 escorts as they had to return to base to refuel.  As Gordon neared the downed men, he again had to cut power to one engine in a power stall landing.  Gordon’s crew was able to find three survivors of the downed bomber, but unfortunately three men were never found.   

With the plane taking on a lot of water and now carrying 18 men, the crew of nine and the nine men they had rescued, it was overloaded and struggled to get airborne.   But Gordon was able to get it in the air and they made their way back to Samarai Island.

Again, while enroute back, Gordon received word that another B-25 went down while on a strafing run.  Without hesitation, he turned his plane around and set a course for its last known position.  This rescue would end up being the fourth, and most dangerous one of the day.  As they were also running low on fuel, the last two P-47 escorts had to return to refuel, so Gordon had to attempt the rescue without support.  In addition, this rescue was magnitudes more dangerous as he had to fly low over the Japanese positions at Kavieng Harbor to reach Capt. William Cavoli’s downed aircraft, just 600 yards off shore. 

Repeating the same procedures, Gordon power stalled the aircraft and put it down by the two rafts that men were on.  Gordon’s plane was well within range of the Japanese guns, but again, the heavy swells provided some protection from enemy fire.  It also meant that a lot of water was leaking into the aircraft.  With some of the men bailing the water, the others were able to pull all six men of the downed bomber into the plane.  

Now extremely overloaded with the nine crew and 15 survivors, Gordon had to fight to get the plane airborne, but he was successful.  On their way back to safety, the crew of the Arkansas Traveler treated the injured men before they were transferred to a seaplane tender which transported them to receive medical care. 

Soon after the rescues of that day, Gordon was promoted to LT and he and his crew flew daily rescue missions over the next seven months.

Unknown to Gordon and his crew, in September 1944 they were flown to Brisbane, Australia for a very specific reason.  There the crew of Arkansas Traveler were all awarded the Silver Star, and LT Nathan Gordon was awarded the Medal of Honor by Vice Admiral Thomas Kincaid.

LT Gordon became a pilot instructor and remained on active duty until 1945 when he was discharged.  After the war, he returned home and opened a law practice with his brother Edward.  In 1946, he was elected LT Governor of Arkansas and remained in that position for 21 years after numerous successful re-election campaigns.  He served under four different Governors and was the longest serving LT Governor in Arkansas history.  

On September 8th, 2008, Nathan Gordon passed away at the age of 92 and he is buried at the Elmwood Cemetery in Morrilton, AR.

Years after the war, Admiral William “Bull” Halsey sent Gordon a telegram that, in part, read the “rescue was truly one of the most remarkable feats of the war”.

Gordon's remarkable story serves as an enduring inspiration, reminding us that even in the face of danger, we possess the inner strength to uphold what is right.  His unwavering belief in the value of every human life teaches us to never falter in our support for others, no matter how daunting the circumstances may be.  As his legacy transcends time, Nathan Green Gordon continues to ignite the spark of inspiration within us, encouraging us all to lead lives adorned with bravery, compassion, and selflessness.

Outro

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For those interested in learning more about LT Nathan Gordon, I've provided links to all sources used in today's episode in the show notes and on our website, dutyandvalor.com.  Don't forget to join us for our next episode where I’ll tell the story of another incredible American hero.