Gordon F. Davidson was born on September 18, 1918. He was the son of Alonzo Bartlett Davidson and Tressie Barbara Reith Hardesty. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Captain and Navigator of B-17 #42-107231 during World War II.

On May 24, 1944, B-17 #42-107231 participated in a bombing mission over Berlin. During the mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire (flak), which struck engines #3 and #4. The damage caused the aircraft to explode and crash near the Jungfernheide railway station in Berlin. Eight of the crew members were killed in action, and the remaining were taken as prisoners of war.

Cpt Davidson was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Sheridan Cemetery, Sheridan, Worth County, Missouri, USA. Gordon F. Davidson's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 3 (right), on Butterfly 25, in the bottom left wing (section C).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org