Captain Ian Donald Roy McDonald (9 September 1898 – 22 September 1920) was a British World War I flying ace credited with 20 aerial victories. Although born in the British West Indies, he travelled to England to serve in the Royal Flying Corps. After his successful career in combat, he spent a short time at home before returning to the colours. He served in Iraq postwar, and was executed there by insurgents.
Early life Although McDonald was born in the Caribbean, he was a British citizen. His father was a legislator.Shores et.al. (1990), p.270.
World War I service McDonald joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and became a fighter pilot. On 26 April 1917, he was appointed a flying officer with the rank of temporary second lieutenant. He was first assigned to 39 (Home Defence) Squadron. From there, he transferred to A Flight, 24 Squadron on 11 July 1917. Flying an Airco DH.5, he scored his first three victories between 30 November and 10 December 1917. Then the squadron upgraded to Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as. McDonald began to score with his new machine; his second victory on 26 February 1918, shared with Ronald T. Mark, Herbert Richardson, and three other pilots, made McDonald an ace.
McDonald missed scoring in March, but was appointed as a flight commander with the rank of temporary captain on the 15th. He tallied six wins in April, four in May, and three in the first week in June. Then, on 17 June, teaming with Horace Barton, George Owen Johnson, and C. E. Walton, he forced down into captivity one of Germany's leading aces, Kurt Wüsthoff. He had become the squadron's second scoring ace.Franks (2007), p.39.
List of aerial victories
+Combat recordNo.Date/timeAircraft/Serial No.FoeResultLocationNotes115 November 1917@ 1330 hoursDH.5s/n A9471Albatros D.IIIDriven down out of controlSoutheast of Diksmuide, Belgium230 December 1917@ 1235 hoursDH.5s/n A9339German reconnaissance aircraftDriven down out of controlFontaine310 December 1917@ 1200 hoursDH.5s/n A9257Albatros D.VDestroyedSouth of Honnecourt-sur-Escaut, France426 February 1918@ 0840 hoursSE.5as/n C1057Fokker TriplaneDestroyedEast of Laon, France526 February 1918@ 0900 hoursSE.5as/n C1057Fokker TriplaneDestroyedEast of Samoussy, FranceVictory shared with Ronald Mark, Herbert Richardson, James Dawe, two other pilots67 April 1918@ 1550 hoursSE.5as/n C9613Albatros D.VDestroyedBois de Moreuil, France711 April 1918@ 1655 hoursSE.5as/n C9613LVG reconnaissance aircraftDriven down out of controlVillers-Bretonneux, France812 April 1918@ 1615 hoursSE.5as/n C9613Albatros D.VDestroyedBetween Hangard and Moreuil, France9Albatros D.VDriven down out of control1020 April 1918@ 0955 hoursSE.5as/n C9613Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedSouth of Morcourt, France1123 April 1918@ 1445 hoursSE.5as/n C9613Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedSouth of Warfusée123 May 1918@ 1835 hoursSE.5as/n C9613Fokker TriplaneDestroyedLe Quesnel, France1316 May 1918@ 0615 hoursSE.5as/n D279Albatros D.VDriven down out of controlFoucaucourt, France1428 May 1918@ 0600 hoursSE.5as/n D3444Fokker D.VIIDriven down out of controlMaricourt, France1531 May 1918@ 1730 hoursSE.5as/n D3444Albatros D.VDestroyedBecquigny, France162 June 1918@ 1115 hoursSE.5as/n D3444Siemens-Schuckert D.IIIDestroyedContoire, France173 June 1918@ 1120 hoursSE.5as/n D3444Albatros reconnaissance aircraftDestroyedSoutheast of Marcelcave, FranceVictory shared with James Dawe185 June 1918@ 0805 hoursSE.5as/n D3444Observation balloonDestroyedMoreuil, France197 June 1918@ 1145 hoursSE.5as/n D3444Fokker TriplaneDestroyedRosières, France2017 June 1918@ 1200 hoursSE.5as/n D3444Fokker D.VIIForced down and capturedCachy, FranceVictory over Blue Max winner Kurt Wusthoff shared with Horace Barton, George Owen Johnson, C. E. Walton
Post World War I He exited the Royal Air Force in early 1919 and went home to Antigua, due to suffering from eye strain. He then returned to the RAF, gaining a permanent commission as a lieutenant on 1 August 1919 and becoming an instructor at RAF Cranwell. In 1920, he was assigned to flight operations in Iraq. On 22 September 1920, he flew DH.9a no. F2838 on a relief expedition to drop food to a stranded boat, the Greenfly. He was shot down by ground fire at Samawahon, and seen to wade ashore. He was executed at Dangatora. He is commemorated on Panels 43 and 64 of the Basra Memorial.
Honours and awards Distinguished Flying Cross Lt. (temp. Capt.) Ian Donald Roy McDonald, M.C. "A dashing, fighting pilot. In the past two months he has destroyed five enemy machines and brought down two others out of control. At all times he shows a fine offensive spirit and complete disregard of danger."
Military Cross Lt. Ian Donald Roy McDonald, R.A.F. "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. With seven scouts he attacked eighteen enemy machines, of which three were destroyed and one driven down completely out of control. When driven down to within 200 feet of the ground by two enemy machines owing to a choked engine, he turned on them and drove one down. He has in all destroyed eleven enemy aircraft and carried out valuable work in attacking enemy troops on the ground."
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