Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of William Arthur Donald and Vera Augusta Donald, of Nambour, Queensland

Flight Sergeant John Donald was a Navigator/Bombadier crew member of a No. 1652 Conversion Unit of Halifax Bomber NA193 that crashed at Scapa Flow, Scotland, on 5th April 1945. The aircraft took off from Royal Air Force Station Marston Moor at 2225 hours on 4th April on a non-operational training exercise to Scapa Flow. The Air Ministry notified his father who was residing at Currie Street in Nambour that he was missing. Also notified was a Miss E.A. Donald of 72 Campbell Street, Toowoomba. Two of the crew were subsequently recovered dead from the sea. No trace was found of John Neal.

NAMBOUR AIRMAN REPORTED MISSING. FLIGHT SERGEANT J.N. DONALD. Sympathy of townspeople is extended to Mr and Mrs W.A. Donald, of Oxleigh Heights, Nambour, in their present anxiety, which came to them by official information on Tuesday last, that their only son, Flight Sergeant John Neal Donald, is reported missing. He is a navigation bomb aimer, and his Halifax aircraft crashed while on a non-operational flight to Scapa Flow. The plane did not return to base, and two bodies of the crew of eight have been recovered from the water. Flight Sergeant Donald, who is 20 years of age, enlisted in the R.A.A.F. some two years ago. He was educated at Toowoomba where, at the Grammar School, he successfully passed his University Junior and Senior examinations. He had not visited his home since some little time after enlistment. Quite recently his name was mentioned amongst the list of Queensland airmen on leave in London.