LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Donald Neill McDONALD
Service No: 429980
Born: Brisbane QLD, 15 May 1924
Enlisted in the RAAF: 10 October 1942 (at Adelaide SA)
Unit: No. 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala SA
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 6 Service Flying Training School Anson aircraft W 2095), Tarlee SA, 23 September 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Mallala War Cemetery, SA
CWGC Additional Information: Son of John Francis and Emily Lucy McDonald, of Port Augusta.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 116, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
At 2130 hours on 23 September 1943, Avro Anson W 2095 took off on a night navigation training exercise. At 2305 hours, the aircraft crashed near Tarlee and completely burned, killing its crew. Unforecast deteriorating weather was considered to be a contributing factor to the crash. The crew members of W 2095 were:
Leading Aircraftman Cyril Markham Lewis (419836) (Trainee Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Donald Neill McDonald (429980) (Trainee Pilot)
Sergeant Julian Patrick Rice (29990) (Pilot)
Flying Officer Ian Duncan Weston (284999) (Navigation Instructor)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 76
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992