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Fl Sgt
Edward Dixon MacDonald
Military Details
Service Number: 1685261
Regiment & Unit / Ship
30 OTU R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve
Service Branch
RAF
Enlisted
1st October 1942
Enlistment Details
Service Number at Enlistment
1685261
Service History
According to an article in 'The Whitehaven News' in May 1944 (the local newspaper for his home area), after being educated at Whitehaven County Secondary School (Grammar School) Edward (Junior) worked as a clerical officer at a local factory. In the early part of the Second World War he had served in the Cleator Moor Home Guard before joining the R.A.F.
Personal Details
Date of Birth
1st July 1922
Place of Birth
Cleator Moor
Address
Ennerdale Rd, Cleator Moor
Residence (Census)
Ennerdale Rd., Cleator Moor
Residence (Roll of Honour)
Ennerdale Rd , Cleator Moor
Parents
Edward & Mary Agnes
Education and Occupation
School
Whitehaven County
Occupation
Clerk
Death and Memorial
Date of Death
26th April 1944
Age at Death
21
Circumstances of Death
On 26th April 1944 Wellington Bomber DF640 took of from RAF Hixon , Staffordshire on a night circuit training exercise .
On coming into land the aircraft bounced badly and then tried to go around for a second attempt . However the aircraft failed to gain height and flew into a hill . Weston Bank (250 ft above s ea level ) and burst into flame with the loss of Edward and two other air crew
Place of Death
RAF Hixon
Regiment at Death
R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve
Battalion/Vessel at Death
30 OTU
Rank at Death
Sgt.
Notes
Edward was not from Ennerdale parish - even though his grave is close to the Ennerdale Church War Memorial - his name is not engraved on the list of WW2 casualties on this memorial. However, the local British Legion does include his name on the wreath laid at the War Memorial each November at Remembrance time.
Edward D. MacDonald's name is also listed on the 1939 - 1945 War Memorial for former pupils of Whitehaven County Secondary School, which is displayed in the Anglican Church of St James, High Street, Whitehaven. He is also remembered on the 'Roll of Honour' of his hometown of Cleator Moor.
The fitting epitaph on the CWGC headstone of Sergeant Edward D. MacDonald reads as follows:
"O true brave heart, somewhere thy soul sees higher heights to climb".
Buried or Commemorated at
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