Gordon Cleaver Squadron Leader Gordon Neil Spencer ' Mouse ' Cleaver Early life . Gordon Cleaver was born in Stanmore , Middlesex and was educated at Harrow School . Cleaver was the inaugural winner of the " Hahnenkammrennen " in 1931 , and is the only British skier to win the event . In the same race was Roger Bushell , of Great Escape fame , who finished in 14th place . Air Force career . Cleaver joined the Auxiliary Air Force in 1937 , serving with No . 601 Squadron RAF , also known as " The Millionaires ' Squadron " . Cleaver went with the squadron to Merville , France on 16 May 1940 . On 18 May , Cleaver , with F / L Archibald Hope , brought down a Do - 17 of 2 / KG 76 west of Mons , the crew being captured . The next day , Cleaver ' s Hurricane was hit by debris from a He - 111 that attacked over Douai and he force - landed near Lille . 601 Squadron was then transferred back to the UK . On 27 May , he claimed two Bf 110s destroyed over Dunkirk . Cleaver next claimed a Ju - 87 destroyed and a He - 111 ' probable ' on 11 July , a Bf 109 destroyed on 26 July , a Bf 109 and a Bf 110 both probables on 11 August and a Bf 110 probably destroyed on 13 August . On 15 August 1940 , Cleaver was shot down during combat over Winchester . The perspex canopy of his Hurricane was hit by cannon shells and the perspex fragments shattered into his face and both eyes . Cleaver baled out and landed by parachute near Lower Upham outside Southampton . On arrival at Salisbury Hospital , it was discovered that he had been blinded in his right eye and had seriously reduced vision in the left . This ended his flying career . Cleaver was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Flying Officer Gordon Neil Spencer CLEAVER ( 90135 ) , Auxiliary Air Force . < br > This officer has been engaged on operational flying since December , 1939 . He participated in numerous offensive patrols during operations in France and the Dunkirk evacuation . Flying Officer Cleaver has now destroyed seven enemy aircraft and possibly another two . In August , 1940 , whilst his base was being subjected to intense bombing , he led his - section with great determination and courage and after destroying one of the attacking aircraft he was severely wounded in both eyes . Despite this , he refused to abandon his aircraft and effected a successful landing . He has displayed great determination and devotion to duty . Despite his injuries , Cleaver was able to remain in the RAF . He officially transferred to the Administrative Branch on 27 May 1941 . He was released on medical grounds from the RAF on 9 November 1943 , retaining the rank of squadron leader . Eye operations and later life . Following the flying incident , Cleaver was sent to Moorfields Eye Hospital . He was operated on by Sir Harold Ridely . Cleaver had 18 operations on his eyes and face . It was during the course of this treatment that Ridley noticed that the perspex itself caused no inflammation in the eye . Ridley based his research on this , and resulted in the development of artificial intraocular lens transplant surgery for cataract patients . Later in life , Cleaver suffered a traumatic cataract in his remaining eye as a result of his original injuries . In the 1980s , he had the cataract removed and received an artificial implant . His sight was restored thanks to research on his own eye 40 years earlier and with an implant based on the perspex which had caused the blindness . Legacy . The organizers of Hahnenkamm named a cup after Cleaver , first presented in 2006 .