Gordon was born on 31 August 1918 in Holborn, London with the surname Katz to Jacob (Israel) Katz and Minnie née Mortimer. The family surname was changed in 1920 to Kaye. In 1939, the family lived at 2 Wilton Way in Hackney where Jacob worked as a master tailor and was listed as a volunteer London ambulance driver. Gordon was working as a commercial traveller and was listed as Royal Airforce Reserve.

Gordon was the observer on Blenheim T2047 which departed from RAF Great Massingham at 09.15 on an operation to attack shipping off the French coast. The aircraft failed to return and the three crew are commemorated on Runnymede Memorial.

W/Op A/G, Montague Victor Berry, 961524
Pilot, Francis Samuel Burnside Knox, 948920