Donald Donaldson (1923 - 1964)

Born 20 Oct 1923 in Bondi

Ancestors

Husband of Joan Margaret (Mayo) Donaldson — married 20 Oct 1945 in St Anne's Strathfield

Descendants

Died 1 Jul 1964 at age 40 in Wahroonga

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Bruce Donaldson [send private message] and J Donaldson [send private message]

DONALD STUART DONALDSON First child of Mervyn and Isabel was born in Bondi on 20 October 1923. Don was educated at Randwick, Blaxland, Penrith, and Parramatta schools to Leaving Certificate level. At Parramatta High School he represented the school in the Combined High School competition in Rugby Union as Captain of the first fifteen. Don was also a member of the first eleven cricket team. In 1938, aged fourteen, he had the unique opportunity to embark on a six months’ tour of England as travel companion to Norm Price, who was the local store keeper at Blaxland. Don was an early member of the 1st Blaxland Scouts and attended the World Scout Jamboree of 1939 at Bradfield Park, Sydney. He joined the RAAF, at the age of eighteen, and trained in Canada and England. Piloting Lancaster bombers, he became a Flying Officer in the 101 Squadron, leading operations over Germany. It was during one of these raids that “his fearless courage and fine airmanship” earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. On his return from active service, Don married Joan Mayo on 20 October 1945 at St Anne’s Church, Strathfield. Joan, only daughter of William and Sylvia Mayo of Belmore, was working at W.C. Penfolds Stationery, Pitt Street, in 1943 and was introduced to Don by her second cousin, John Hawkins. They became engaged before he left for overseas war service. Don later became officer in charge of the Interstate Telephone Exchange at the Sydney GPO controlling all main exchange links throughout the country. He was an inaugural member and founding President of West Epping Bowling Club. After a short illness, Don died at Wahroonga on 1 July 1964, aged forty years. Don and Joan had four children. Source: “The Donaldson Family in Australia” ISBN 1 86252 991 4 Published in Oct 1987.

Don joined the RAAF, at the age of eighteen, and trained in Canada and England. Piloting Lancaster bombers, he became a Flying Officer in the 101 Squadron, leading operations over Germany.

This is a description of a Lancaster Pilot and Captain. It succinctly describes the character and qualities of Don. A Lancaster pilot in Bomber Command had a dual responsibility. In addition to flying his machine, he was, with few exceptions, leader of his crew, regardless of rank. While it was the duty of the Captain to tell his crew what to do, he was wise to make the fullest use of their specialised knowledge. Failure to heed the advice of his Navigator, Wireless Operator or Engineer, or even to consult with them, could easily risk his aircraft.Example was the key to confidence & to secure confidence was the essence of leadership. Whether he had a good or indifferent crew, at times, the Captain had to drive; on other occasions he had to persuade, but at all times, he had to lead. There had to be one person in supreme command, who, however well his crew performed, was the one to make decisions in sudden emergencies.In no other branch of the Service did so great a responsibility devolve on young officers & NCO’s as that of being an aircraft captain. Authority & discipline were essential in the air, while even on the ground, he had to quietly maintain authority at all times.

From the day a Lancaster pilot became a captain, he was a man just a little apart.

.From: Lancaster Memorial –Nanton, Alberta, Canada.

Service Record of Don during his RAAF Years.

World War 2 Service Enlisted 18th July 1942, Sydney, NSW Service Number: 423677 Royal Australia Air Force Flying Officer Date of Discharge 4th September 1945 Aircraft Piloted Avro Anson Oxford Wellington Halifax Lancaster Honours & Awards Wings & Stripes – 8th July 1943 Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) – granted 23rd March, 1945. Presentation 27th February, 1947. War Medal – 1939-1945: Australian Service Medal – 1939-1945: Star - 1939-1945: France & Germany Star Defence Medal: Returned from Active Service Badge 2 Postings 12.11.42 No. 8 Elementary Flying Training – Narrandera, NSW, 06.03.43 No. 3 Manning Depot, Air Force Camp Edmonton, Can. 23.03.43 No. 7 Service Flying Training School – Macleod, Canada 12.08.43 No. 11 Personnel Dispatch & Reception Centre – Brighton. U K 21.09.43 No. 20 Advanced Flying Unit – Kidlington, Oxfordshire. 02.11.43 No. 1519 Beam Approach Training School – Feltwell, 15.02.44 No. 27 Operational & Refresher Training Unit – Lichfield, 23.05.44 No. 11 Base Conversion Unit – Lindholme, Yorkshire, England 26.05.44 No. 11 Base Satellite (Aircrew await Con Unit Postings) – Sandtoft. 03.06.44 No. 1656 Conversion Unit – Lindholme, England 03.07.44 No. 1 Lancaster Finishing School – Hemswell, 20.07.44 No. 101 Squadron – Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire, 30.01.45 No. 29 Operational Flight Unit – Bruntingthorpe, 25.04.45 No. 3 Flying Instructor School – Lulsgate Bottom,

Tour Operations

34 operations over Germany & France between 24.07.44 & 09.11.44 30 “Successful” 2 Ordered to “Abandon” “ 2 Impossible” due to heavy cloud cover.

Sources

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 18 August 2021, 07:45), entry for Donald Donaldson (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:G841-8T7 ); contributed by various users.