MacDonald, Joseph Roderick Gerald
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Joseph Roderick Gerald |
Surname | MacDonald |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 26-07-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Hughes MacDonald and Marguerite Claudie MacDonald (née Boutin), of Saskatchewan, Canada. Husband of Muriel Dorothy MacDonald (née Copeland)- marriage on 4 September 1942 at Kindersley. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | EE906 |
Markings | QS-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot EE. Coll. grave 78-82. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 202 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/115757 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 620 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Chedburgh, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Monument with Inscribed Marble Tablets |
Memorial Text | In memory and honour of the Royal Air Force and Polish Air Force Squadrons who were based at RAF Chedburgh 1942 - 1946 |
Location | Village Green, Chedburgh, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Pillar, inscribed concrete slab and metal plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to the men and women who served at RAF Chedburgh between 1942 and 1946, including 620 Sqn |
Location | All Saints Church, Chedburgh |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | RoH & Sqn Badge |
Memorial Text | 620 Sqn Roll of Honour and 620 Sqn Badge |
Miscellaneous Information
Joseph was born in Saskatchewan on 15 November 1917. His father was born in St. Andrews, Ontario and worked as a farmer and labourer and his mother was born in Castleman, Ontario. He attended Shackleton School, Saskatchewan, 1924-1931 (Grade VIII) and also 1931-1935, (Grade XI) junior Matric. The sports he took part in were baseball and swimming and his hobbies were snow plane and propeller designing, as well as model aeroplanes and reading about aeronautics. Joseph worked as a farm labourer in Kindersley with Landen Heise 1936-1936, W.R.Tindall 1936-1939 and with H.G.Turnbull 1939-1941. |
After enlisting at Saskatoon on 29 July 1941, and early training, Joseph embarked from Canada on 27 October 1942 and arrived at 3PRC on 6 November 1942. He then went to 6(P) AFU on 17 November 1942, 12 OTU 19 January 1943, 1651 CU. 6 May 1943, 149 Sqn 4 June 1943 and 620 Squadron on 17 June 1943. Sadly Joseph lost his life the following month on 26 July 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2138/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2134/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 25-07-1943 |
End Date | 26-07-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Chedburgh |
Day/Night Raid | Night (32% moon) |
Operation | Essen. 705 aircraft, 26 losses (3.7%). The commander of the American 8th Air Force was an observer in this raid, aboard an 83 Sqn Lancaster. Window was once again used and the raid was a success with much damage to the industrial eastern part of the city. In particular, the Krupps facility was dealt what was probably the worst blow of the war. Dr Krupp suffered a stroke the following morning from which he never recovered (he would otherwise have been charged with war crimes after the war). 51 other industrial buildings and 2852 homes were destroyed. 500 people were killed, including 22 children. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Lieshout, near Helmond, Holland |