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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Donaldson, John William |
| Date of birth: | September 4th, 1910 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaya)
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| Date of death: |
June 9th, 1940
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| Nationality: |
British |
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BIOGRAPHY:
Service number 32074.
John Donaldson was the brother of Teddy and Arthur Donaldson.
He led 263 Squadron during both Norwegian expeditions.
Donaldson took part in the successful evacuation of fighters from Narvik on 8 June 1940 when he and nine other pilots from 263 Squadron landed their Gladiators aboard HMS Glorious. However, this successful evacuation was negated when the carrier was sunk by the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau later in the day with the loss of almost all aboard, Donaldson being one of them.
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DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER (DSO)
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Rank:
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Squadron Leader
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Awarded on:
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May 10th, 1940
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Action:
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Citation:
"This officer commanded a squadron during the operations at Aandalsnes. In spite of the great difficulties encountered, numerous successful attacks on enemy aircraft were carried out under the skilful and extremely courageous leadership of Squadron Leader Donaldson. On one day alone the squadron is thought to have accounted for fourteen enemy aircraft, six being shot down and eight others put out of action."
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AIR FORCE CROSS
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Rank:
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Squadron Leader
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Awarded on:
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July 11th, 1940
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Details:
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Since reported missing.
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