Biographical data

Biographical Data
Gonyon, Harold Harrison If you have images associated with this Person, please contact us at admin@nauticapedia.ca

Title	Flight Sub-Lieutenant (RNAS)
Official Number	(nk)

Birth	06/05/1896	Death	(nk)
Place	Chatham	Place	(nk)
Area	ON	Area	(nk)
Country	Canada	Country	(nk)

Titles
Honours	DFC.
Awards
Qualifications

Biography
He was living in Wallaceburg, Ontario or Chatham, Ontario at the time of his recruitment where he was working as an electrical engineer). He was awarded US Flying Certificate No. 518. dated 28/06/1916 following trials at the Curtiss Flying School, Newport News, Virginia.

Military Service
He was appointed as a Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant 1916. In 1916 he served in RNAS Windermere for flying training. He served in Dover Seaplane Station 02/01/1917. He served in Dover Seaplane Station 19/02/1917. He served in Dunkirk Seaplane Station 14/07/1917. He served in 217 Squadron 18/01/1918 - 22/07/1918 (wounded 30 May 1918). He served in the Home Establishment 22/07/1918 . He served in #233 Squadron. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross "On 03/04/1918 he was on an anti-submarine patrol of DH.4s. Captain Gonyon and Lieutenant Brown on special mission, observed (at 1610 hours) enemy submarine with conning tower awash at position ten miles north of Dunkirk. Gonyon released one 230-pound bomb from 700 feet which hit just ahead of conning tower. Submarine disappeared and quantities of air bubbles and oil were observed. He dropped another 230-pound and Lieutenant Brown his 230-pound bombs on same position. Having rebombed their machines, they returned; where they had bombed they observed two large patches of oil and a floating spar. Four 230-pound bombs were dropped on the position by other machines. An RAF report stated that an enemy submarine had been destroyed - "There appears to be no doubt."

Military Service

He was appointed as a Probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant 1916. In 1916 he served in RNAS Windermere for flying training. He served in Dover Seaplane Station 02/01/1917. He served in Dover Seaplane Station 19/02/1917. He served in Dunkirk Seaplane Station 14/07/1917. He served in 217 Squadron 18/01/1918 - 22/07/1918 (wounded 30 May 1918). He served in the Home Establishment 22/07/1918 . He served in #233 Squadron. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross "On 03/04/1918 he was on an anti-submarine patrol of DH.4s. Captain Gonyon and Lieutenant Brown on special mission, observed (at 1610 hours) enemy submarine with conning tower awash at position ten miles north of Dunkirk. Gonyon released one 230-pound bomb from 700 feet which hit just ahead of conning tower. Submarine disappeared and quantities of air bubbles and oil were observed. He dropped another 230-pound and Lieutenant Brown his 230-pound bombs on same position. Having rebombed their machines, they returned; where they had bombed they observed two large patches of oil and a floating spar. Four 230-pound bombs were dropped on the position by other machines. An RAF report stated that an enemy submarine had been destroyed - "There appears to be no doubt."

Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown	DH.4
Named Features

Anecdotes
He was on the first list of recipients following the institution of the Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded on 03/06/1918 for services of bombing a submarine on 03/04/1918.

References
Hiorth, D. (1995); Grant, Scottie & Bob Murray (nd); MacFarlane, John and Robbie Hughes (1997); http://airforce.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/gong-4g-h.html; Email (Ian Gee - Nauticapedia 18/02/2022);
Last update
2022-02-18 00:00:00

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Biographical Data

Gonyon, Harold Harrison