Black Cats over Kavieng: Honoring Medal of Honor Recipient Nathan Gordon
Nathan Green Gordon is one of only 6 naval aviators to be awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II. And the only Arkansan to receive the medal for participating in air combat against the enemy.
Following the World War II, Gordon returned home to Arkansas and had a
distinguished political and legal career. In recognition of his service to
both our nation and our state, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military
History is pleased to honor Nathan Gordon as the 2nd recipient its Arsenal
Award.
Nathan G. Gordon was born September 4, 1916 in Morrilton, Arkansas; his father was a distinguished trial lawyer practicing in Morrilton. He attended Columbia Military Academy in Tennessee, then Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. He transferred to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he earned a law degree in 1939 and began practicing in Morrilton.
In 1940 he enlisted in the selective service at the age of 24. In February 1942, Gordon graduated from flight school, two short months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Newly commissioned Lt. Nathan Gordon reported to Norfolk, VA where he became a member of the Black Cat Squadron, a group of fliers whose planes flew night raids against Japanese ships. During three months of raids, they sank 110,000 tons of enemy shipping. Their cumbersome Catalina planes, fitted with two 1,000 pound and two 500 pound bombs, had a cruising speed of 110 knots and no faster than a modern automobile. They were painted black and featured a cat’s face with its jaws chomping down on an enemy cargo ship. On top of the cat’s head was a set of radio headphones and a ball cap.
