Career
Gates entered into the Royal Naval Air Service as a probationary flight officer (temporary) on 22 July 1917, and was promoted to flight sub-lieutenant on 14 November 1917. Gates was posted to Number. 1 Naval Squadron in early 1918, flying the Sopwith Camel.
He gained his first victory on 15 March 1918, destroying a Pfalz Doctorate.III, east of Diksmuide.
By the time of his second, driving down "out of control" a Fokker Doctor.I south of Albert on 16 May, the Royal Naval Air Service had been merged with the Army"s Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force. On 16 July he accounted for a Rumpler reconnaissance aircraft and an observation balloon, and a destroyed a second balloon on 19 July.
On 10 August he destroyed two Halberstadt aircraft south east of Rosièresearch On 27 August he was appointed a temporary captain.
Gates shot down six more aircraft between 3 and 23 September, and finally another observation balloon on 27 September, before being wounded in action.
He was awarded the twice, which were both gazetted in November 1918. After the war Gates left the Royal Air Force, being transferred to the unemployed list on 20 June 1919.
