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{{Infobox military person
| name = George Cecil Gardiner
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1892|3|28}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1940|7|30|1892|3|28}}
| birth_place = [[Pune|Poona]], [[British Raj|India]]
| death_place = Helmieh, Egypt
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial = Cairo War Memorial Cemetery
| placeofburial_coordinates = 
| nickname =
| allegiance = United Kingdom
| branch = British Army Royal Air Force
| serviceyears = c.1906–1940
| servicenumber =
| rank = Group Captain
| unit = {{Plainlist|
* [[16th (The Queen's) Lancers]]
* [[Royal Irish Regiment (1684–1922)|Royal Irish Regiment]]
* [[Machine Gun Corps]]
* [[No. 14 Squadron RAF|No. 14 Squadron RFC]]
* [[No. 47 Squadron RAF|No. 47 Squadron RFC]]
* [[No. 150 Squadron RAF]]
* [[No. 84 Squadron RAF]]
* [[No. 55 Squadron RAF]]
}}
| commands = [[No. 216 Squadron RAF]] [[Helwan|RAF Helwan]]
| battles = World War I [[Iraqi revolt against the British|Iraqi Revolt]] World War II
| awards = [[Distinguished Service Order]] [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] [[Legion of Honour]] [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de guerre]]
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
Group Captain '''George Cecil Gardiner''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DSO|DFC|sep=yes}} (28 March 1892 – 30 July 1940) was a [[World War I]] [[flying ace]] credited with six aerial victories.<ref name="theaerodrome">{{cite web |url=http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/gardiner.php |title=George Cecil Gardiner |work=The Aerodrome |year=2014 |accessdate=3 January 2015 }}</ref>

==Background and early life==
Gardiner was born in Poona, India, the son of Colour Sergeant Charles Gardiner of the [[Worcestershire Regiment]],<ref name="richardgilbert">{{cite web |url= http://www.richardgilbert.ca/achart/public_html/articles/york/george_gardiner.htm |title=1940 George Cecil Gardiner DSO, DFC |first=A. W. |last=Cockerill |work=Duke of York's School |year=2011 |accessdate=2 January 2015}}</ref> and Beatrice Gardiner (née Delahay).<ref name="CWGC">{{cite web |url= http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2274215/GARDINER,%20GEORGE%20CECIL |title=Gardiner, George Cecil |work=Commonwealth War Graves Commission |year=2015 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> 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 (1684–1922)|Royal Irish Regiment]].<ref>{{London Gazette |date=19 October 1915 |supp=y |issue=29335 |page=10371 }}</ref> On 21 May 1916 he was seconded for service with the [[Machine Gun Corps]],<ref>{{London Gazette |date=19 December 1916 |supp=y |issue=29874 |page=12454 |nolink=yes}}</ref> and on 6 October he was transferred to the [[Royal Flying Corps]], being appointed a flying officer (observer) on 15 December.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=9 March 1917 |issue=29976 |page=2383 |nolink=yes}}</ref> He served with [[No. 14 Squadron RAF|No. 14 Squadron RFC]] in the [[Middle East]],<ref name="ABT163">{{cite book |first1=Christopher F. |last1=Shores |first2=Norman |last2=Franks |authorlink2=Norman Franks |first3=Russell F. |last3=Guest |title=Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 |page=163 |location=London, UK |publisher=Grub Street |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-948817-19-9 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> before training as a pilot, and he was appointed a flying officer on 24 June 1917.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=10 August 1917 |supp=y |issue=30225 |page=8169 |nolink=yes}}</ref> On 1 July he was promoted to lieutenant,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=21 December 1917 |supp=y |issue=30444 |page=13461 |nolink=yes}}</ref> and was assigned to [[No. 47 Squadron RAF|No. 47 Squadron RFC]], serving on the [[Macedonian front]]. He gained his first victory there on 1 October, over Beles, flying a [[Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12|B.E.12]], by driving down an [[Albatros Flugzeugwerke|Albatros]] C out of control.<ref name="theaerodrome"/> He was wounded in action later in October, but soon returned to flying<ref name="richardgilbert"/> as he was credited with destroying an [[Albatros D.III]] in November, while flying a [[Airco DH.2|DH.2]].<ref name="theaerodrome"/> Gardiner gained this victory while repelling an attack, and even though his gun jammed on the fourth shot, infantry below belatedly confirmed the kill.<ref name="ABT163"/>

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]].<ref name="richardgilbert"/> On 3 June, in the King's birthday honours list, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=31 May 1918 |supp=y |issue=30722 |page=6519 |nolink=yes}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=23 July 1918 |issue=30808 |page=8627 |nolink=yes}}</ref> and gained his sixth and final victory on 3 September, with another Albatros D.V destroyed west of Cerniste.<ref name="theaerodrome"/>

==Inter-war career==
Gardiner remained in the RAF post-war, being appointed an acting captain for a second time on 1 May 1919,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=29 August 1919 |issue=31527 |page=10894 |nolink=yes}}</ref> and being made a ''Chevalier'' of the [[Legion of Honour]], and receiving the [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de guerre]], from France.<ref name="richardgilbert"/><ref name="CWGC"/> He was promoted from flying officer to flight lieutenant on 1 January 1922,<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1922/1922%20-%200012.html |title=New Year Honours |issue=680 |volume=XIV |page=12 |journal=[[Flight International|Flight]] |date=5 January 1922 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> while serving with [[No. 84 Squadron RAF|No. 84 Squadron]] in Iraq. He then returned to the UK, and was posted as a supernumerary officer at the RAF Depot (Inland Area) on 31 March 1922.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1922/1922%20-%200289.html |title=Royal Air Force: Appointments |issue=699 |volume=XIV |page=289 |journal=Flight |date=18 May 1922 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> On 27 August he was posted to the Headquarters of [[No. 7 Group RAF|No. 7 Group (Inland Area)]] for personnel staff duties.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1922/1922%20-%200489.html |title=Royal Air Force: Appointments |issue=713 |volume=XIV |page=489 |journal=Flight |date=24 August 1922 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> Gardiner was then assigned to [[No. 2 Flying Training School RAF|No. 2 Flying Training School]] at [[RAF Duxford]] on 1 March 1924.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1924/1924%20-%200183.html |title=Royal Air Force: Appointments |issue=796 |volume=XVI |page=183 |journal=Flight |date=27 March 1924 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> On 28 July 1927 he was assigned to the [[Air Ministry]] to serve in the Directorate of Training,<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1927/1927%20-%200619.html |title=Royal Air Force: Appointments |issue=972 |volume=XIX |page=571 |journal=Flight |date=11 August 1927 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> and between 5 July and 10 October 1928 he was seconded for duty in [[Estonia]].<ref>{{London Gazette |date=17 June 1928 |issue=33404 |page=4823 |nolink=yes}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |date=18 January 1929 |issue=33458 |page=466 |nolink=yes}}</ref> After a short time at the RAF Depot at [[RAF Uxbridge]],<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1928/1928%20-%201021.html |title=Royal Air Force: Appointments |issue=1035 |volume=XX |page=943 |journal=Flight |date=25 October 1928 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> he returned to the Air Ministry Directorate of Training on 21 December 1928.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1929/1929%20-%200083.html |title=Royal Air Force: Appointments |issue=1046 |volume=XXI |page=35 |journal=Flight |date=10 January 1929 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref>

Gardiner was promoted to squadron leader on 14 May 1930,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=13 May 1930 |issue=33605 |page=2966 |nolink=yes}}</ref> and on 2 January 1931 was posted to [[No. 55 Squadron RAF|No. 55 Squadron]] based at [[RAF Hinaidi]] in Iraq.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1931/1931%20-%200085.html |title=Royal Air Force: Appointments |issue=1152 |volume=XXIII |page=87 |journal=Flight |date=23 January 1931 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> On 23 June he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order "in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Iraq".<ref>{{London Gazette |date=23 June 1931 |issue=33728 |page=4079 |nolink=yes}}</ref> Gardiner was posted to No. 4 Flying Training School at [[RAF Abu Sueir]] in Egypt, as Chief Flying Instructor, on 23 October 1934,<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1934/1934%20-%201177.html |title=Royal Air Force: Appointments |issue=1350 |volume=XXVI |page=1179 |journal=Flight |date=8 November 1934 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> and also served as an instructor at [[RAF Hendon]] in 1935.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1935/1935%20-%200302.html |title=Royal Air Force: Appointments |issue=1363 |volume=XXVII |page=154 |journal=Flight |date=7 February 1935 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> In June 1936 he was selected for retention on the active list up to the age of 48, which would be in 1940.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1936/1936%20-%201549.html |title=Extensions of Service |issue=1433 |volume=XXIX |page=636 |journal=Flight |date=11 June 1936 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> On 1 January 1937 he was promoted to wing commander,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=1 January 1937 |issue=34356 |page=17 |nolink=yes}}</ref> and on the 11th was appointed commander of [[No. 216 Squadron RAF|No. 216 (Bomber Transport) Squadron]] based at [[Heliopolis (Cairo suburb)|Heliopolis]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1937/1937%20-%200372.html |title=Royal Air Force: Appointments |issue=1468 |volume=XXXI |page=144 |journal=Flight |date=11 February 1937 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref>

==World War II==
Gardiner was promoted to group captain on 1 March 1940,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=12 March 1940 |issue=34810 |page=1472 |nolink=yes}}</ref> but "died on active service"<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1940/1940%20-%202372.html |title=Royal Air Force: Casualties |issue=1652 |volume=XXXVIII |page=156 |journal=Flight |date=22 August 1940 |accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref> at Helmieh Hospital<ref name="richardgilbert"/> on 30 July 1940 while serving as station commander at [[Helwan|RAF Helwan]], and was buried at the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.<ref name="CWGC"/> He was survived by his wife Kathleen August Lyle Gardiner of [[Tiverton, Devon]].<ref name="richardgilbert"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardiner, George}}
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1940 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials in Egypt]]
[[Category:People from Pune]]
[[Category:People educated at the Duke of York's Royal Military School]]
[[Category:16th The Queen's Lancers soldiers]]
[[Category:Royal Irish Regiment (1684–1922) officers]]
[[Category:Machine Gun Corps officers]]
[[Category:Royal Flying Corps officers]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:British World War I flying aces]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Military personnel of British India]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force group captains]]
[[Category:British people in colonial India]]

George Gardiner (RAF officer) - Revision history

Bot: robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.