Gordon Cleaver facts for kids

Gordon Neil Spencer 'Mouse' Cleaver (born April 27, 1910 – died December 24, 1994) was a brave Royal Air Force pilot. He was a flying ace during the Battle of Britain in Second World War. This means he shot down seven enemy planes. After the war, he helped doctors create special lenses to help people see again.

Early Life and Skiing Success

Gordon Cleaver was born in Stanmore, England. He went to a school called Harrow School.

Before he became a pilot, Gordon was a very good skier. In 1931, he won a famous ski race called the Hahnenkammrennen in Austria. For 91 years, he was the only British skier to win this race. Another famous person, Roger Bushell, who was part of the Great Escape, also raced there.

Joining the Air Force

Gordon joined the Auxiliary Air Force in 1937. He flew with No. 601 Squadron RAF, which was sometimes called "The Millionaires' Squadron."

In May 1940, Gordon and his squadron went to France. On May 18, he and another pilot shot down a German Do-17 plane. The next day, his own Hurricane plane was hit by pieces from an enemy plane. He had to land his plane safely near Lille. Soon after, his squadron moved back to the UK.

Battle of Britain Hero

Gordon Cleaver was a key pilot during the Battle of Britain. This was a huge air battle over Britain in 1940. On May 27, he shot down two enemy Bf 110 planes near Dunkirk.

He continued to fight bravely. On July 11, he destroyed a Ju-87 plane. He also likely damaged a He-111. On July 26, he shot down a Bf 109. In August, he likely damaged more enemy planes.

A Serious Injury

On August 15, 1940, Gordon was shot down during a fight over Winchester. The clear plastic canopy of his Hurricane was hit by bullets. Pieces of the plastic shattered into his face and eyes.

Gordon had to bail out of his plane and landed safely with his parachute. He was taken to Salisbury Hospital. Doctors found that he was blind in his right eye. His left eye also had very poor vision. This injury meant he could no longer fly planes in combat.

Awards and Continued Service

Even with his serious injuries, Gordon Cleaver stayed in the RAF. He was given the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery. This award recognized his courage and skill as a pilot.

The award citation said he had destroyed seven enemy aircraft. It also mentioned that he was badly wounded but still managed to land his plane safely. He showed great determination and dedication to his duty. Gordon officially moved to an administrative role in the RAF in 1941. He left the RAF in 1943 due to his injuries, keeping his rank of squadron leader.

Eye Operations and Later Life

After his injury in 1940, Gordon Cleaver had 18 operations on his eyes and face. He had not been wearing his pilot's goggles, so his face and eyes were not protected. He regained some sight in one eye but remained blind in the other.

During his treatment, a doctor named Harold Ridley noticed something important. He saw that the plastic (called Perspex) in Cleaver's eye did not cause any swelling or problems. This observation gave Dr. Ridley an idea. After the war, he used this knowledge to develop the first artificial lens for the eye. This invention helped many people with vision problems.

Years later, Gordon Cleaver developed cataracts in his remaining eye. In the 1980s, he had surgery to remove the cataract. He received an artificial lens, similar to the one inspired by his own injury. Thanks to this, his sight was restored.

Legacy and Recognition

The organizers of the Hahnenkamm ski race created a special cup named after Gordon Cleaver. It was first given out in 2006.

In 2013, a book called Saving Sight by Andrew Lam, M.D., talked about Gordon Cleaver's last dogfight. It also explained how his injury led to Dr. Harold Ridley's invention of the artificial eye lens.

In 2016, a TV show called The One Show on BBC 1 featured a short film about Gordon Cleaver. It showed how his injury helped lead to the invention of the intraocular lens, which changed how doctors treat eye problems.