MACDONALD, Donald Ian
| Service Number: | 405593 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 April 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 22 January 1921 |
| Home Town: | Blackall, Blackall Tambo, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Southport School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Overseer on a Sheep Station |
| Died: | Night Fighter Attack, North Sea. 50 Km NW of Terschelling. , 9 April 1943, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Blackall War Memorial, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Pilot Officer, 405593 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 405593 |
Help us honour Donald Ian MacDonald's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Maurice Kissane
Don was born in Brishane in 1921. He was called Donald Macdonald, like his father before him. He completed his schooling at Southport and was a private in the Cadet Unit.
He apsired to be a Grazier as he liked working on stations. Don was an overseer on a sheep station. Hence he had demonstrated some leadership and organizational skills before he enlisted. He was keen on learning how to fly and applied for RAAF Aircrew. He thought that enhance his post war career as an outback station manager.
He made the RAAF Aircrew cut for RAAF Pilot training. He mastered the DH82 Tiger Moth then twin engined Avro Anson. Don got his covetered flying badge unlike many other aspirants. He was streamed for Bomber Command. In 1942 he was sent to the U.K. for RAF Heavy Bomber Conversion and Operational Training.
He spend three months in No 460 RAAF Squadron on Lancaster Ops before he was shot down on a night raid. RAAF Lancaster Mk1 ED621 was intercepted by a Night Fighter Ace some 50 km NW of the largest of the Fresian Islands. There were no surviors. The attack took place over the North Sea. Hence there are no war graves for Don's crew. His Lancaster crew are memorilized at the Runneymede Air Forces Memorial for Aircrew without a war grave.
Don was commissioned as an RAAF Pilot Officer. R.I.P.
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