File:New England aviators 1914-1918; their portraits and their records (1919) (14576792377).jpg

English: Lieutenant William Gaston, N.A.F., Royal Aviation Bombing Corps. Son of William A. and May L. (Lockwood) Gaston; was born in Boston, Nov. 12, 1896. He was educated at La Villa, Ouchy, Switzerland; at St. Mark's School, Southboro, Mass.; and graduated, Harvard College, class of 1919. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April, 1917. In May he was transferred to the Naval Aviation Squad at Squantum, Mass., where he was commissioned Ensign on Jan. 2, 1918, and received a pilot's license. He was ordered to the Aviation Detachment, Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads, Va., on Oct. 18, 1917, and served there as an instructor. On Feb. 6, 1918, he was assigned to the Royal Flying Corps, at Fort Worth, Tex., for a course in Aerial Gunnery. He sailed for Europe on March 22, 1918. On his arrival in England he patrolled the North Sea and English Channel, and later was attached to the R.N.A.S. at Hornsea, Yorkshire, in April, 1918. He was sent in May to No. 1 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping at Stonehenge Mills, Salisbury, and remained there as instructor for one month. He was then assigned to the U.S. Northern Bombing Squadron with headquarters at St.-Nylevert, France, in July, 1918; in Aug. he was attached to the U.S. Air Service at Milan, Italy. Subsequently, from Sept. to Dec, 1918, he was with No. 214 Squadron, R.A.F., in France, and was in command of a Handley-Page bombing plane. He was promoted to the rank of Lieut, (j.g.), Dec. 12, 1918. Ordered home to the U.S. in Dec, 1918, and relieved from active duty in Feb., 1919. He returned to Harvard, and graduated with the class of 1919. Brother in Service — John Gaston, Lieut., U.S. Marines, 18th Co., 5th Division, Army of Occupation, Germany.

Identifier: NewEnglandaviatVol2Tick (find matches)
Title: New England aviators 1914-1918; their portraits and their records
Year: 1919 (1910s)
Authors: Ticknor, Caroline, 1866-1937, ed
Subjects: Biography Aeronautics World War, 1914-1918
Publisher: Boston, New York, Houghton Mifflin Company
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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