Tony Gaze facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederick Anthony Owen Gaze
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|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Tony |
| Born | 3 February 1920 Prahran, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 29 July 2013 (aged 93) Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1940–1948 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Unit | No. 57 OTU No. 616 Squadron RAF No. 131 Squadron RAF No. 66 Squadron RAF No. 41 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held | No. 64 Squadron RAF No. 610 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross & Two Bars Medal of the Order of Australia |
| Spouse(s) | Diana Davison |
| Other work | Motor racing driver |
Frederick Anthony Owen Gaze (born February 3, 1920 – died July 29, 2013), also known as Tony Gaze, was an amazing Australian. He was a brave fighter pilot and a fast racing driver. During Second World War, he flew with the Royal Air Force and was known as a "flying ace" because he shot down 12.5 enemy planes. After the war, he became a very successful racing driver in the UK, Europe, and Australia. He made history as the first Australian to ever compete in a Formula One Grand Prix race!
Contents
Tony Gaze's Early Life
Tony Gaze was born in Melbourne, Australia, on February 20, 1920. His father, Irvine Gaze, was part of a group preparing for Ernest Shackleton's famous expedition to the South Pole. Tony went to Geelong Grammar School. When World War II started in September 1939, he was studying at Queens' College, Cambridge in England.
Tony Gaze's Military Service
Joining the Royal Air Force
Tony Gaze joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1940. After finishing his training, he was sent to No. 610 Squadron RAF in March 1941. He flew fighter planes over the English Channel.
First Victories in the Sky
Tony got his first "kill" on June 26, 1941, when he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 enemy plane. The next month, he shot down two more planes and helped with another. Because of these victories, he received his first Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). This was a very important award for bravery. Sadly, his brother, Scott Gaze, who had joined the same squadron, was killed in action in March 1941. In November 1941, Tony became an instructor, teaching other pilots.
In June 1942, Tony started his second tour of duty with No. 616 Squadron RAF. He flew the Spitfire Mk.VI, which was a high-flying plane. During the Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942, he destroyed another enemy fighter and earned his second DFC. Later that month, he was put in charge of No. 64 Squadron RAF, flying the newer Spitfire IX.
Shot Down and Escape
On September 26, 1942, Tony led a group of Spitfires to support a bombing mission. During this mission, many planes from another squadron were lost due to bad weather and pilot inexperience. Tony was unfairly blamed and sent back to No. 616 Squadron RAF.
After a break, he returned to flying missions in August 1943 with No. 66 Squadron RAF. On September 4, 1943, after shooting down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 plane, Tony's own Spitfire was shot down. He crash-landed about 20 miles from Dieppe with only minor injuries. He managed to avoid being captured by the enemy. With help from the French Resistance, a secret group fighting against the occupation, he made his way to neutral Spain and eventually returned to Britain.
Back in Action
In February 1944, Tony joined a special unit that tested new air fighting methods. In July 1944, he rejoined No. 610 Squadron RAF. On February 14, 1945, he shot down a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet plane. This was a big deal because it was the first time an Australian pilot had shot down one of these advanced German jets! He also shared in shooting down an Arado Ar 234 jet bomber on April 12, 1945.
For shooting down the Me 262 jet, Tony Gaze received his third Distinguished Flying Cross. Only 47 people received this award three times during World War II. In May 1945, he became one of the first Australians to fly the Gloster Meteor jet in combat during the final days of the war.
During the war, Tony flew alongside famous pilots like Douglas Bader and Johnnie Johnson. He also met Paul Tibbets, the pilot who later flew the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
Tony Gaze's Air Victories
Tony Gaze ended the war as one of Australia's top ten "aces." He was credited with shooting down 12.5 enemy planes, damaging 5, and possibly shooting down 4 others, all while flying different types of Supermarine Spitfires. He flew 488 combat missions.
| Victory No. | Date | Squadron | Enemy aircraft | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 26 June 1941 | No. 610 Squadron | Messerschmitt Me 109E | Gravelines |
| Probable | 26 June 1941 | No. 610 Squadron | Messerschmitt Bf 109 | Gravelines |
| Damaged | 2 July 1941 | No. 610 Squadron | Messerschmitt Bf 109 | Lille |
| 1.5 | 6 July 1941 | No. 610 Squadron | Messerschmitt Bf 109 shared | Lille |
| 2.5 | 10 July 1941 | No. 610 Squadron | Messerschmitt Bf 109 | Hardelot |
| 3.5 | 10 July 1941 | No. 610 Squadron | Messerschmitt Bf 109 | Hardelot |
| Probable | 17 July 1941 | No. 610 Squadron | Messerschmitt Bf 109 | Le Touquet |
| Probable | 13 July 1942 | No. 616 Squadron | Messerschmitt Bf 109 | Abbéville |
| 4.5 | 18 July 1942 | No. 616 Squadron | Focke-Wullf Fw 190 | Le Touquet |
| Probable | 18 July 1942 | No. 616 Squadron | Focke-Wullf Fw 190 | Le Touquet |
| 5.5 | 19 August 1942 | No. 616 Squadron | Dornier Do 217 | Dieppe |
| Damaged | 6 September 1942 | No. 616 Squadron | Focke-Wulff Fw 190 | St. Omer |
| Damaged | 11 October 1942 | No. 64 Squadron | Focke-Wulf Fw 190 | Dunkirk |
| Damaged | 16 August 1943 | No. 129 Squadron | Focke-Wulf Fw 190 | Eeckloo |
| 6.5 | 17 August 1943 | No. 129 Squadron | Focke-Wulf Fw 190 | Antwerp |
| Probable | 19 August 1943 | No. 129 Squadron | Messerschmitt Me 109G | |
| 7.5 | 4 September 1943 | No. 66 Squadron | Focke-Wulf Fw 190 | Beauchamps |
| 8.5 | 5 August 1944 | No. 610 Squadron | V-1 | Beachy Head, East Sussex, UK |
| 9.5 | January 1945 | No. 610 Squadron | Focke-Wulff Fw 190D | On the ground |
| 10.5 | 14 February 1945 | No. 610 Squadron | Messerschmitt Me 262 | Emmrich on Rhine |
| 11.5 | 10 April 1945 | No. 41 Squadron | Junkers Ju 52/3m | Bremen-Nieuberg |
| 12 | 12 April 1945 | No. 41 Squadron | Arado Ar 234 shared | Bremen |
| 12.5 | 28 April 1945 | No. 41 Squadron | Focke-Wulff Fw 190D shared | Schwerin airfield |
| 13.5 | 30 April 1945 | No. 41 Squadron | Focke-Wulff Fw 190D | Elbe Bridgehead |
Tony Gaze: Racing Driver
| Formula One World Championship career | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active years | 1952 | ||||||||||
| Teams | Privateer HWM | ||||||||||
| Entries | 4 (3 starts) | ||||||||||
| Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
| Wins | 0 | ||||||||||
| Podiums | 0 | ||||||||||
| Career points | 0 | ||||||||||
| Pole positions | 0 | ||||||||||
| Fastest laps | 0 | ||||||||||
| First entry | 1952 Belgian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last entry | 1952 Italian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
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After the war, Tony Gaze had an idea for a racing track. In 1946, he suggested to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon that the roads around RAF Westhampnett would be perfect for racing. The Duke liked the idea, and the Goodwood Circuit opened in 1948.
Tony returned to Australia and started racing an Alta car he brought with him.
Formula One Pioneer
In 1951, he raced in Europe. The next year, the rules for the World Championship changed from Formula One to Formula 2. Tony adjusted his plans and took part in several races. In June 1952, he went to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the 1952 Belgian Grand Prix. He finished 15th, making him the very first Australian to compete in a World Championship motor race! He also raced in the British and German Grand Prix that year.
Rally and Sports Car Racing
In 1953, Tony was part of the first Australian team to try the Monte Carlo Rally. They drove a Holden FX car with Lex Davison and Stan Jones. They finished 64th in the tough race. That same year, he raced an Aston Martin DB3 in sports car events. He had a scary accident in Portugal when his car hit a tree and burst into flames. Luckily, spectators pulled him to safety, and he only had minor cuts and bruises.
In 1954 and 1955, Tony raced a Ferrari 500 F2 in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. When he returned to England, he started the Kangaroo Stable, which was the first Australian international racing team. A young Jack Brabham, who would later become a Formula One champion, was part of this team. They raced Aston Martin DB3S cars. However, many races were cancelled after a big accident at Le Mans in 1955, and the team stopped at the end of the season. Tony continued to race for one more year.
Racing Highlights
Tony Gaze had many great results in his racing career. Here are some of his top finishes:
| Season | Series | Position | Team | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Lady Wigram Trophy | 2nd | HWM-Alta | |
| New Zealand Grand Prix | 3rd | HWM-Alta | ||
| 1955 | Les 12 Heures d’Hyères | 2nd | Kangaroo Stable | Aston Martin DB3S |
| New Zealand Grand Prix | 3rd | Ferrari 500/625 | ||
| 1956 | Dunedin Road Race | 1st | Ferrari 500/750S | |
| Moomba TT | 1st | FAO Gaze | HWM-Jaguar | |
| New Zealand Grand Prix | 2nd | Ferrari 500/750S | ||
| Lady Wigram Trophy | 2nd | Ferrari 500/750S | ||
| Southland Road Race | 2nd | Ferrari 500/750S | ||
| Ardmore Grand Prix | 3rd | HWM-Jaguar | ||
| Argus Cup | 3rd | HWM-Jaguar |
Tony Gaze: Gliding Enthusiast
After talking with Prince Bira, who loved gliding, Tony Gaze decided to try the sport himself. He became very active in a gliding club and even represented Australia in the 1960 World Gliding Championships in Germany.
Tony Gaze's Personal Life
Tony Gaze was married twice. His first wife, Kay Wakefield, passed away in 1976. He then married Diana Davison, who was also a racing car driver. Diana passed away in 2012. Tony was also a step-grandfather to the next generation of Davison racing drivers: Alex, Will, and James.
See also
- List of World War II flying aces
