401207 - Unaccounted airman - 7-12-1940

[Henk Welting]

What caused the death of and/or what was the place of death registration for:

LAC Donald J.P. MacDONALD - 1280779 - died of wounds or injuries received on active service.

Proposed aircraft losses for this day:

Audax I - K7412 - AB Aeromilitaria: 9 FTS - crashed this day; no further details; K-File: 9 FTS - crashed "23-10-1940" in night landing, Babdown Farm, where ever this may be - MacDonald injured and died 7-12-1940 ??).
Lysander II - N1309 - 1 SAC - crashed on landing Old Sarum.
Tiger Moth II - T5839 - 1 EFTS - DBR in accident; no further details.
Wallace II - K4342 - 1 GDGS - u/c collapsed on landing Ronaldsway.

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[paulmcmillan]

"Babdown Farm, where ever this may
"

http://www.cotswoldcollection.co.uk/airfieldhistory.htm

[Resmoroh]

Henk,
Babdown Farm (in deepest, darkest, Gloucestershire!!) was an Advanced Flying Unit within 23 Group (South Cerney), Flying Training Command. It was 14 miles south of Gloucester! UK OS NGR ST 845936. Or 51. 38.5 N, 02. 13.5 W.
The natives in them parts have to be treated with some care!
Henk, you will soon know more about UK airfield geography than many Brits!!!!
Yrs Aye
Peter Davies

[malcolmmacdonald]

Donald John Patrick Macdonald was born at Portnaguran, Isle of Lewis, but his father Donald was lost on HMS Recruit on 9 August 1917.

He was then raised at Portsmouth by his mother Amy. He was at university before joining the RAF three months before his death - cause of which I can offer no clue - other than his being at university suggests he was a trainee pilot.

Interred at Clanfield (St James) Cemetery.

I hope that helps a little.


Malcolm

[Henk Welting]

Thanks all for this valued info; much appreciated.
Regards,
Henk.

[wwrsimon]

Hello

LAC Donald J.P. MacDONALD - 1280779 - the National Probate Calendar records that he died at Hullavington, Yorkshire. His headstone has the inscription 'Cadet Pilot, R.A.F.'

Regards

Simon

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

401207 - Unaccounted Airmen - 07-12-1940

From Henk's List -

CANADA
DEBENHAM, John Spencer - AC2c - 623688 - RAF.
GEORGE, Bert Aiden - AC2c - 905114 - RAFVR.
These two airmen rest at Goderich (Maitland) Cemetery, Ontario, Canada.
These two airmen met their deaths by drowning.

UK
UPHAM, Stanley Charles - AC1c - 865247 - RAF (AAF) - 964 Balloon Sqdn.
Hooe (St.John) Churchyard Extension, Devon.
Killed by a falling Balloon that had been struck by lightning.

From CWGC -

BELGIUM
GROCOTT, Joseph Alan - Sgt - 581509 - RAF.
NANSON, John James Coulsham - Sgt - 759229 - RAFVR.
PARKER, Robert Coates - Sgt - 754182 - RAFVR.
PONTIN, William Humphrey - Sgt - 967876 - RAFVR.
ROGERS, Anthony Arthur - Sgt - 965303 - RAFVR.
STANLEY, Desmond Geoffrey (Republic ofIreland) - F/Lt - 33336 - RAF.
These six airmen rest at Oostende New Communal Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
They were crew of Wellington Ic - R3220 - 9 Sqdn.

CANADA
OGILVY, Stuart Tresilian - Lac - R/61456 - RCAF.
Moose Jaw (Rosedale)Cemetery, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Harvard - 2607 - 1 EFTS.

EGYPT
CARTER, Frank Lionel - Sgt - 538498 - RAF.
CATTELL, Leslie Philip - F/Lt - 39493 - RAF - MiD.
TAYLOR, Horace Albert Edward - Sgt - 520188 - RAF.
These three airmen were crew of Blenheim I - L8455 - 84 Sqdn.

CAZALET, Michael Peter - Sgt - 566385 - RAF.
RIDGEWELL, Kenneth John - Sgt - 755991 - RAFVR.
These two airmen were crew of Blenheim I - L8457 - 84 Sqdn.

The above five airmen are commemorated on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt.

FRANCE
BROOKS, George Henry - P/O - 78459 - RAFVR.
EEDE, Thomas John George - Sgt - 527729 - RAF.
MUSENDEN, Hugh Eric - F/O - 41198 - RAF.
PRATT, John William - Sgt - 627713 - RAF.
These four airmen were crew of Beaufort I - N1154 - 217 Sqdn.
They rest at Hospital-Camfrout Communal Cemetery, Finisterre, France.

HARRIS, Wilfred Arthur - F/Lt - 33256 - RAF.
Oye - Plage Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Wellington Ic - R3209 - 214 Sqdn.

GREECE
BARBER, James Ernest - Sgt - 746793 - RAFVR.
JERDEIN, Guy Inglis - P/O - 42312 - RAF.
MUNRO, John - Sgt - 638862 - RAF.
These three airmen were crew of Blenheim I - L1535 - 211 Sqdn.

HALLETT, Norman Alfred - Sgt - 650433 - RAF.
PICKERSGILL, Paul Bernard - F/O - 41057 - RAF.
TAYLOR, Harry - Sgt - 745958 - RAFVR.
These three airmen were crew of Blenheim I - L4926 - 211 Sqdn.

The above six airmen rest at Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece.

UK
MACDONALD, Donald John Patrick - Lac - 1280779 - RAFVR.
Clanfield (St.James) Churchyard, Hampshire.
Audax - K7412 - 9 SFTS.

MILLAR, George - Cpl - 546007 - RAF.
Kirk Malew (St Malew) Churchyard Extension, Isle of Man.
Wallace II - K6073 - 1Gp DGS.

ADAMS, William Arthur - Sgt - 564507 - RAF.
Plymouth (Weston Mill)Cemetery, Devon.
MILLER, Patrick Joseph - Sgt - 625296 - RAF.
Londonderry (Or Derry) City Cemetery, County Londonderry, UK.
REES, Charles William - F/Lt - 90050 - RAFVR.
Killead (St.Catherine) Church of Ireland Churchyard, County Antrim, UK.
WORTHINGTON, Michael Law - F/O - 76024 - RAFVR.
Prestbury (St.Peter) Churchyard, Cheshire.
These four airmen were crew of Whitley V - T4277 - 502 Sqdn.

SHILLING, Joseph Donald - Sgt - 741468 - RAFVR - 50 Ssqdn.
Farnborough (Victoria Road) Cemetery, Hampshire.
THOMSON, John - Sgt - 647064 - RAF.
Finningley (Holy Trinity and St Oswald) Churchyard Extension, Nottinghamshire.
These two airmen were crew of Hampden I - L4103 - 106 Sqdn.

DAVENPORT-JONES, Garton Vincent - Sgt - 653259 - RAF.
MICHIE, Kenneth William - F/O - 41723 - RAF.
These two airmen rest at Scampton (St.John the Baptist) Churchyard, Lincolnshire.
GOLDIE, Thomas - Sgt - 631889 - RAF.
Lesmahagow (Or Abbey Green) Cemetery, Lanarkshire.
These three airmen were crew of Hampden I - X3028 - 49 Sqdn.

BECK, Hugh Denis - Sqdn/Ldr - 33106 - RAF.
Ringwood Cemetery, Hampshire.
BINKS, George Arnold - Sgt - 943809 - RAFVR.
Linthwaite (Christ Church Churchyard and Extension, Yorkshire.
COAD, Alan James - Sgt - 566061 - RAF - DFM.
St.Budeaux Churchyard and Extension, Plymouth, Devon.
DARDS, Monty Richard - Sgt - 745785 - RAFVR.
Upper Heyford Cemetery, Oxfordshire.
HADFIELD, Thomas - Sgt - 616922 - RAF.
Halliwell (St.Peter) Churchyard, Lancashire.
These five airmen were crew of Hampden I - P4292 - 16 OTU.

FRIEND, Jack Richard - Sgt - 904234 - RAFVR.
Wittering (All Saints) Churchyard, Northamptonshire.
HUGHES, John McCulloch Middlemore - F/Lt - 33191 - RAF.
Chilworth (St.Denys) Churchyard, Hampshire.
These two airmen were crew of Blenheim I - L1235 - 25 Sqdn.

HEMSLEY, William Raymond - Sgt - 745314 - RAFVR.
Derby (Nottingham Road) Cemetery, Derbyshire.
STEEL, Alfred Kenneth - P/O - 43083 - RAF.
Sunderland (Bishopwearmouth) Cemetery, Durham.
These two airmen were crew of Blenheim IV - T2395 - 53 Sqdn.

The following nineteen airmen are all commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

DAVIES, Malcolm Haydn - Sgt - 630694 - RAF.
GREEVES, Stuart Gordon - Sgt - 740008 - RAFVR.
PARISH, Edward Francis - Sgt - 818132 - RAF (AAF).
YOUNG, Leslie - Sgt - 751115 - RAFVR.
These four airmen were crew of Hampden I - X3050 - 49 Sqdn.

CRESWELL, Albert Edward - Sgt - 937069 - RAFVR.
DUNN, Derek John - F/O - 74671 - RAFVR.
EDDOWES, Frank - Sgt - 940397 - RAFVR.
GRAY, Thomas - Sgt - 751313 - RAFVR.
WYLAM - WALKER, Norman - P/O - 84973 - RAFVR.
These five airmen were crew of Whitley V - P5112 - 51 Sqdn.

ASHMAN, Arthur Charles - Sgt - 906102 - RAFVR.
STACEY, Richard Francis - Sgt - 654662 - RAF.
WHITE, Phillip James - Sgt - 956165 - RAFVR.
WOODING, Alan Asquith - Sgt - 745040 - RAFVR.
These four airmen were crew of Wellington Ic - R3209 - 214 Sqdn.

BUCKINGHAM, Francis Thomas - Sgt - 758023 - RAFVR.
DADSWELL, David Allan - F/O - 40367 - RAF.
JAMES, William Henry - Sgt - 972478 - RAFVR.
LEE, Edward Cooper - Sgt - 969132 - RAFVR.
MACASKIE, John Cunningham - Sgt - 936778 - RAFVR.
POWRIE, Charles Duncan - Sgt - 745352 - RAFVR.
These six airmen were crew of Wellington Ic - T2476 - 214 Sqdn.

Alex

[Andy Marden]

MILLAR, George - Cpl - 546007 - RAF.
Kirk Malew (St Malew) Churchyard Extension, Isle of Man.
Wallace II - K6573 - 1Gp DGS.

Small typo - Wallace serial was K6073

[Andy Marden]

MACDONALD, Donald John Patrick - Lac - 1280779 - RAFVR.
Clanfield (St.James) Churchyard, Hampshire.
Audax - K7412 - 9 SFTS.

Alex,
This one is interesting. As mentioned in the earlier thread for this day: http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?1870-401207-Unaccounted-airman-7-12-1940
most published sources give the loss date of Audax K7412 as 23 October 1940.
I am wondering what the original source for this date was (ie where did the Air-Britain writes get that information).
Given that AIR81/4464: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C16688562
states "killed; aircraft accident, Audax K7412, 9 Service Flying Training School, 7 December 1940" it seems unlikely that MacDonald was injured on the earlier date.
Ideas anyone please?
Andy

[Alex Smart]

To add to the confusion, Gloucestershire Aircraft Accidents pdf has the crash date as 3rd November 1940.��

But the K-file has on page 111.
K7412
Deld to 3 ASU 1.12.36; 114 sqn 15.3.37; 105 Sqn 29.4.37; ASU 26.10.37; 10 ERFTS 14.2.38; Undershot landing, Yatesbury, 9.9.38; ROS; 3 FTS 3.9.39; 9 FTS 24.10.39; Tipped up in heavy landing at night, Babdown LG 23.10.40; ROS.
Crashed 7.12.40; Pilot killed; NFD; wreck to 30 MU 15.12.40; SOC1.2.41.

[Ross_McNeill]

A F1180 has been raised for K7412 on 23rd Oct. No Audax cards are in the index for 3rd Nov or 7th Dec.

On the 23rd an axle snapped because of drift on landing and aircraft stood on nose. Recorded as M. No injuries.

Pilot P/O T Wardhaugh.

Ross

[Alex Smart]

Hi Andy, re K6073, the K-file has two Fatalities. Engine cut, ditched in Irish sea off Langness Lighthouse, Isle of Man.
Have edited my earlier post.
Thanks for the ever watchful eye��
Alex

[Ross_McNeill]

MacDonald death certificate raised 7th Dec at aerodrome Hullavington states cause of death "fractured skull sustained when aircraft he was piloting collided with another aircraft by misadventure"

Ross