page_title: Gordon Brettell
section_title: War service
hierarchical_section_title: Gordon Brettell / War service
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: fr:Ray Hanna aux commandes du Spitfire MH434 lors du Flying Legends de fr:2005 Auteur&#160;: Franck Cabrol Licence&#160;: GNU/GFDL Permissions transmise à permissions(AT)wipkipedia.org le 09/10/2006 Autorisation-OTRS-GFDL otrs 2006100910006804 Franck Cabrol
context_page_description: Edward Gordon Brettell DFC, known as Gordon Brettell, was a British Spitfire fighter pilot who was taken prisoner during the Second World War. He took part in the 'Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III in March 1944, but was one of the men re-captured and subsequently shot by the Gestapo.
context_section_description: He enlisted in the Royal Air Force at the start of 1940 as an aircraftman pilot candidate with the service number 61053. On completion of flight training he was commissioned as pilot officer on 17 February 1941. From final stage training at No. 58 Operational Training Unit Brettell Joined No. 92 Squadron RAF flying the Spitfire on 3 March 1941 and on 4 September 1941 probably shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 in combat.
  He was promoted to flying officer on 17 February 1942 and in the summer of 1942 he was posted to No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron RAF at Lympne as a flight commander, the only British officer within the volunteer US unit. He was temporarily in command of the squadron.  During his service with 133 Squadron, led by Don Blakeslee, he flew over the Dieppe beaches as top cover while the amphibious commando raid took place on 19 August 1942 and shot down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter during the mission.  On 29 September 1942 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service with 133 (Eagle) Squadron, his citation stating,
  This officer has participated in 111 sorties over enemy occupied territory. He has always displayed the greatest keenness to engage the enemy. On one occasion he was wounded in combat and, on recovery, he resumed operational flying with renewed zest. He is an excellent flight commander.
caption: Spitfire fighter
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