WALCH, Donald Curtis
| Service Number: | 404489 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 September 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 21 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | HOBART, TAS, 5 March 1908 |
| Home Town: | Launceston, Launceston, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Launceston, 22 May 1968, aged 60 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Carr Villa War Cemetery, Launceston, Tasmania Monumental, Section A10, 432 MEMORIAL ID 212985129 · View Source |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 13 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 404489, Aircrew Training Units | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 404489, No. 226 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Don Walch did indeed serve on 226 Sqn. He was 39236 S/L Graham Reese 'Digger' Magill's regular navigator. A snippet from Norman Frank's, "The Greatest Air Battle Dieppe, 19 August 1942 (p.40): "Magill got back safely although his machine (226 Sqn Boston III Z2295 MQ-A), was damaged. Not for the first time did the crest on his Boston get them Home. His usual crew was Pilot Officer Donald Walch, from Tasmania, as navigator, and 'Taffy' Gubbins, air gunner. (Gubbins was away on 19 August, his place being taken by Sergeant S Praeger). The crest consisted of a kangaroo, a kiwi and a welsh dragon on a boomerang, ensuring a return ticket, they hoped!" | |
| 5 Jan 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 404489, No. 180 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| 25 Jan 1944: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross, Air War NW Europe 1939-45, No, 180 Squadron (RAF) Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 3 February 1944 on page 210 at position 4 London Gazette 25 January 1944 on page 483 at position 3 | |
| 25 Jun 1944: | Imprisoned Air War NW Europe 1939-45, 25-6-1944 No.21 Sqn Mosquito VI LR373 In a borrowed aircraft, W/C Braham set out on a day patrol to Denmark. His aircraft was intercepted by Fw Robert SPRECKELS, of Stab./JG 1, and shot down into the sea. Braham and his navigator were rescued by a German vessel and became PoWs 40667 W/C (Pilot) John Robert Daniel BRAHAM DSO**DFC** - PoW AUS404489 F/L (Nav.) Donald Curtis WALCH DFC RAAF - PoW Interned Stalag Luft III | |
| 25 Jun 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 404489, No. 21 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| 16 Apr 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 404489 |
Denmark Patrol
25-6-1944 No.21 Sqn Mosquito VI LR373
In a borrowed aircraft, W/C Braham set out on a day patrol to Denmark. His aircraft was intercepted by Fw Robert SPRECKELS, of Stab./JG 1, and shot down into the sea.
Braham and his navigator were rescued by a German vessel and became PoWs
40667 W/C (Pilot) John Robert Daniel BRAHAM DSO**DFC** - PoW
AUS404489 F/L (Nav.) Donald Curtis WALCH DFC RAAF
PoW Interned Stalag Luft III
Submitted 28 December 2023 by Steve Larkins
Raid on Dieppe
Don Walch did indeed serve on 226 Sqn. He was 39236 S/L Graham Reese 'Digger' Magill's regular navigator. A snippet from Norman Frank's, "The Greatest Air Battle Dieppe, 19 August 1942 (p.40):
"Magill got back safely although his machine (226 Sqn Boston III Z2295 MQ-A), was damaged. Not for the first time did the crest on his Boston get them Home. His usual crew was Pilot Officer Donald Walch, from Tasmania, as navigator, and 'Taffy' Gubbins, air gunner. (Gubbins was away on 19 August, his place being taken by Sergeant S Praeger). The crest consisted of a kangaroo, a kiwi and a welsh dragon on a boomerang, ensuring a return ticket, they hoped!"
Submitted 28 December 2023 by Steve Larkins