"My father was born on 4th April 1923. His parents, Kenneth Gordon MC and Mavis Gordon (nee Lyne-Smith), opened the Garden House Hotel in Folkestone, Kent, the following year. He attended Feltonfleet School in Folkestone before going to Copthorne Prep School and finally Charterhouse. He joined the RAF in 1942 and after basic training on various aircraft including the Sopwith Camel, he was posted abroad for further training. He served with squadrons 40, 49, 52, 69, 138 and 180, flying Canberras and Vulcans in later years and even flew a Spitfire! He left the RAF in the mid-60s to take over the running of the family hotel. In the late 1970s he was divorced and my parents went their separate ways. Father remarried and took various jobs including a directorship with Checksfields Motors in Dymchurch, Kent. He was a keen photographer and gardener. In his later years he became ill and spent the last few years in a number of nursing homes in Hythe, Saltwood and Littlestone. He died on 27th March 2007 and is sadly missed by two sons and a daughter."
Written by: David Lyne-Gordon, on 5th April 2007 for a website in honor of his father: http://www.friendsandrelations.com/html/detail.php/id/152/relations/david_campbell_gordon.html
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PVC David J. (DJ) Bentz III
KIA 6/20/07
Picture on the left - DJ with his sister, Elle
Picture on the right - DJ on the phone with his sister, Elle
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