Ian Donald Roy McDonald

Captain Ian Donald Roy McDonald MC, DFC (9 September 1898 – 22 September 1920) was a British World War I flying ace credited with 20 aerial victories.[1] Although born in the British West Indies, he returned to England to serve in the air force. After his successful career in combat, he spent a short while at home before returning to the colours. He served in Iraq postwar, and was executed there by insurgents.

Ian Donald Roy McDonald
Born	9 September 1898 Saint John's, Antigua, British West Indies
Died	22 September 1920 (aged 22) Dangatora, Iraq
Commemorated at	Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army Royal Air Force
Years of service	1916–1922
Rank	Captain
Unit	No 39 Squadron RFC No. 24 Squadron RAF
Awards	Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross

Early life

Although McDonald was born in the Caribbean, he was a British citizen. His father was a legislator.[2]

World War I service

The younger McDonald joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and became a fighter pilot.[2] On 26 April 1917, he was appointed a flying officer with the rank of temporary second lieutenant.[3] 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.[2]

McDonald missed scoring in March, but was appointed as a flight commander with the rank of temporary captain on the 15th.[4] 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. Four days later, McDonald went for a rest.[2] He had become the squadron's second scoring ace.[5]

List of aerial victories

Combat record[1]

No.	Date/time	Aircraft/ Serial No.	Foe	Result	Location	Notes
1	15 November 1917 @ 1330 hours	DH.5 s/n A9471	Albatros D.III	Driven down out of control	Southeast of Dixmude, Belgium
2	30 December 1917 @ 1235 hours	DH.5 s/n A9339	German reconnaissance aircraft	Driven down out of control	Fontaine
3	10 December 1917 @ 1200 hours	DH.5 s/n A9257	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	South of Honnecourt-sur-Escaut, France
4	26 February 1918 @ 0840 hours	SE.5a s/n C1057	Fokker Triplane	Destroyed	East of Laon, France
5	26 February 1918 @ 0900 hours	SE.5a s/n C1057	Fokker Triplane	Destroyed	East of Samoussy, France	Victory shared with Ronald Mark, Herbert Richardson, James Dawe, two other pilots
6	7 April 1918 @ 1550 hours	SE.5a s/n C9613	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	Bois de Moreuil, France
7	11 April 1918 @ 1655 hours	SE.5a s/n C9613	LVG reconnaissance aircraft	Driven down out of control	Villers-Bretonneux, France
8	12 April 1918 @ 1615 hours	SE.5a s/n C9613	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	Between Hangard and Moreuil, France
9			Albatros D.V	Driven down out of control
10	20 April 1918 @ 0955 hours	SE.5a s/n C9613	Pfalz D.III	Destroyed	South of Morcourt, France
11	23 April 1918 @ 1445 hours	SE.5a s/n C9613	Pfalz D.III	Destroyed	South of Warfusée
12	3 May 1918 @ 1835 hours	SE.5a s/n C9613	Fokker Triplane	Destroyed	Le Quesnel, France
13	16 May 1918 @ 0615 hours	SE.5a s/n D279	Albatros D.V	Driven down out of control	Foucaucourt, France
14	28 May 1918 @ 0600 hours	SE.5a s/n D3444	Fokker D.VII	Driven down out of control	Maricourt, France
15	31 May 1918 @ 1730 hours	SE.5a s/n D3444	Albatros D.V	Destroyed	Becquigny, France
16	2 June 1918 @ 1115 hours	SE.5a s/n D3444	Siemens-Schuckert D.III	Destroyed	Contoire, France
17	3 June 1918 @ 1120 hours	SE.5a s/n D3444	Albatros reconnaissance aircraft	Destroyed	Southeast of Marcelcave, France	Victory shared with James Dawe
18	5 June 1918 @ 0805 hours	SE.5a s/n D3444	Observation balloon	Destroyed	Moreuil, France
19	7 June 1918 @ 1145 hours	SE.5a s/n D3444	Fokker Triplane	Destroyed	Rosières, France
20	17 June 1918 @ 1200 hours	SE.5a s/n D3444	Fokker D.VII	Forced down and captured	Cachy, France	Victory over Blue Max winner Kurt Wusthoff shared with Horace Barton, George Owen Johnson, C. E. Walton[6]

Post World War I

He exited the Royal Air Force in early 1919[5] and went home to Antigua,[2] suffering from eye strain.[7] He then returned to the RAF,[2] gaining a permanent commission as a lieutenant on 1 August 1919[8] and becoming an instructor at RAF Cranwell. In 1920, he was assigned to flight operations in Iraq.[2] On 22 September 1920, he flew[7] DH.9a no. F2838[9] 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.[7] He is commemorated on Panels 43 and 64 of the Basra Memorial.[10]

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."[11]

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."[12][13]

References

1. "Ian Donald Roy McDonald". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
2. Shores et.al. (1990), p.270.
3. "No. 30090". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1917. p. 5072.
4. "No. 30618". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 April 1918. p. 4283.
5. Franks (2007), p.39.
6. "Kurt Wüsthoff". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
7. "Personals: Deaths". Flight. XII (626): 1297. 23 December 1920. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
8. "No. 31486". The London Gazette. 1 August 1919. pp. 9864–9868.
9. Smith, Vic (2015). "September 1920 Reported Accidents". Vic's Aviation History Site. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
10. "Casualty Details: McDonald, Ian Donald Roy". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
11. "No. 30827". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 August 1918. p. 9201.
12. "Honours: Medals for RAF". Flight. X (508): 1051. 19 September 1918. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
13. "No. 30901". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 September 1918. p. 10986.

Bibliography

• Franks, Norman (2007). SE 5/5a Aces of World War I. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-180-9.
• Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.