Devreaux Richard Cecil “Dick” McDonald

Flying Officer, Pilot
Royal Canadian Air Force
Killed in Action – August 1943

Service Summary

Dick McDonald moved to Minnedosa with his family in 1928 and completed all of his schooling there, graduating Grade 12 in 1940. He was known as an avid outdoorsman who loved the Minnedosa hills.

He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in October 1940 and trained in British Columbia and Brandon, Manitoba, graduating as a pilot in August 1941.

Wartime Experience

Dick served initially as a staff pilot in England before operational training in 1942.

He was later posted to No. 432 Squadron (“Leaside Squadron”) in Yorkshire, flying Wellington bombers. He completed more than twenty bombing operations over Germany.

During the night of August 2–3, 1943, Dick and his crew failed to return from the massive raid on Hamburg and were later presumed killed in action.

Commemoration

Dick and his crew have no known grave and are commemorated on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, Surrey, England.

He had planned to return to Canada after the war and pursue university studies in Forestry.

Medals & Honours

• Air Medal

• Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp

• Defence Medal

• 1939–45 Star

• France and Germany Star

• War Medal 1939–45

• Operation