Lt Gordon T. Gates, son of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin H. Gates of 79 Afterglow Avenue,
Verona, has been killed in action in the Southwest Pacific. A telegram notifying his
parents arrived Saturday a few hours after they had received a letter from their
son's commanding officer, Lt. Gen. George C. Kenney, describing achievements for
which he recently was awarded the Air Medal.
Lt. Gates, 22, was born in Montclair, attended Montclair Academy and was
graduated from Montclair High School. He left Yale University in his junior year to
volunteer in the Army Air Forces in January, 1942. He was commissioned the
following September and went overseas last January as a fighting pilot.
He was pilot of a P-38 and had taken part in 25 combat missions between May 27
and August 11 as a member of the Fifth Air Force.
Gen. Kenney's letter said Lt. Gates had made "a very real and very tangible
contribution to victory and peace" and that he was "proud to have such as your son
in my command". The medal, wrote the General, was awarded "in recognition of
courageous service to his combat organization, his fellow American Airmen, his
country, his home and to you".
Lt. Gates, a nephew of County Clerk Russell T. Gates, was the youngest of three
brothers in service. The others are Lt. Franklin M. Gates of the Navy, an instructor
on the training ship "Prairie State", and 1st Lt. Richard Gates, a combat pilot with
the Eighth Air Force in England. His cousin, Sgt. Pilot Morris R. Mitchell of
Montclair was killed September 9 in England while flying with the Eagles Squadron
of the RAF.
Lt. Gates also leaves two sisters Miss Audrey Gates who is in school in Connecticut,
and Mrs. Richard King who is at Norfolk, Va., where her husband is a Navy flyer.
Newark Evening News
October 25, 1943
Verona, has been killed in action in the Southwest Pacific. A telegram notifying his
parents arrived Saturday a few hours after they had received a letter from their
son's commanding officer, Lt. Gen. George C. Kenney, describing achievements for
which he recently was awarded the Air Medal.
Lt. Gates, 22, was born in Montclair, attended Montclair Academy and was
graduated from Montclair High School. He left Yale University in his junior year to
volunteer in the Army Air Forces in January, 1942. He was commissioned the
following September and went overseas last January as a fighting pilot.
He was pilot of a P-38 and had taken part in 25 combat missions between May 27
and August 11 as a member of the Fifth Air Force.
Gen. Kenney's letter said Lt. Gates had made "a very real and very tangible
contribution to victory and peace" and that he was "proud to have such as your son
in my command". The medal, wrote the General, was awarded "in recognition of
courageous service to his combat organization, his fellow American Airmen, his
country, his home and to you".
Lt. Gates, a nephew of County Clerk Russell T. Gates, was the youngest of three
brothers in service. The others are Lt. Franklin M. Gates of the Navy, an instructor
on the training ship "Prairie State", and 1st Lt. Richard Gates, a combat pilot with
the Eighth Air Force in England. His cousin, Sgt. Pilot Morris R. Mitchell of
Montclair was killed September 9 in England while flying with the Eagles Squadron
of the RAF.
Lt. Gates also leaves two sisters Miss Audrey Gates who is in school in Connecticut,
and Mrs. Richard King who is at Norfolk, Va., where her husband is a Navy flyer.
Newark Evening News
October 25, 1943
Gordon T. Gates
ID: 0-792014
Entered the Service From: New Jersey
Rank: First Lieutenant
Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 36th
Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group
Died: Wednesday, October 20, 1943
Buried at: Honolulu Memorial
Location: Honolulu, HI, USA
Plot: Q Grave: 76
Awards: Air Medal
ID: 0-792014
Entered the Service From: New Jersey
Rank: First Lieutenant
Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 36th
Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group
Died: Wednesday, October 20, 1943
Buried at: Honolulu Memorial
Location: Honolulu, HI, USA
Plot: Q Grave: 76
Awards: Air Medal
| Gordon T. Gates BRANCH OF SERVICE U.S. Army Air Forces HOMETOWN Montclair, NJ HONORED BY Mr. & Mrs. Charles Alling, Friends ACTIVITY DURING WWII P-47 PILOT. |
| The goal of this project is to preserve the memory of these heroes and not let their stories be lost to history. Their sacrifices should be honored and their histories should be available to school children and adults to learn about the heroic Verona residents who came before them. It is vital that friends and family of these heroes be found, so that they may share pictures, service records, and other information to add to these stories. If you are a family member or friend of one of these heroes, or you know someone who is or may have additional information, please contact: Robert Caruso Heritage Preservation Associates Verona, New Jersey veronaheroes@heritagepreservation.us |
| This Website is maintained by Heritage Preservation Associates |
| Verona Hero |
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1st Lt. Gordon Taylor Gates
| Verona Residence: 79 Afterglow Ave |
| Photo courtesy of Mr. Richard Gates, brother of Gordon T. Gates |
