Donald's Story.
Donald was born 23rd november 1920 and attended Brierly St Junior School and Ruskin Road Secondary School in Crewe. He joined the RAF in 1938 and at the outbreak of the war he was stationed in RAF Sydenham in Northern Ireland attached to 226 Squadron Bomber Command. In May 1941 the squadron was relocated to RAF Wattisham in Suffolk. They also operated out of RAF Manston in Kent flying Blenheim bombers attacking enemy shipping in the Channel. Donald was an Air Gunner Radio Operator in the Blenheim. On 10th August 1941 a report came in that a 2000 tonne German vessel with two escorting AA ships and ME 109 fighter escortshad been spotted in the Channel and 3 Blenheims including Donald's aircraft ( Marking MQ- L) were sent to attack the ship. Donald's plane flown by Squadron Leader Waddington led the attack flying 50 fett above the sea but was hit by AA fire crashing into the sea with the loss of all 3 crew members. The second Blenheim was shot doen by an ME 109 but the third plane hit the ship with 2 bombs leaving it on fire.
Operation Report from National Archive AIR-27-1406-35
226 Squadron Blenheim 4
226 Squadron Blenheim 4 flying over the British countryside