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McPherson, Donald Clifford

Date of birth:
August 14th, 1923 (Emerson/Manitoba, Canada)
Date of death:
June 17th, 1944 (Biezenmortel/North Brabant, The Netherlands)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Graves Roman Catholic Cemetery Biezenmortel
Grave: 6.
Service number:
J/90243
Nationality:
Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

Donald was born on August 14 1923 in Emerson Manitoba, the son of Howard Leonard McPherson (American) and Doris Rose McPherson nee Dowling (English) of Vancouver.

His brothers were Norman, Robert and Jack McPherson (all three also in the army) and his sister was Doris Joan McPherson.

He was an office clerk and member of the United Church. His sports were hunting, fishing and bowling.

He enlisted on October 9 1942 in Vancouver and he went on October 8 1943 thereafter from New York USA overseas to the UK.

Donald was killed in action on Saturday June 17 1944 age 20 due to a crash after an explosion near Biezenmortel before or after an attack on Sterkrade near Oberhausen in Germany.
The other fallen RCAF crew members were P/O Alan G. Fairless age 27 in grave 3, Sgt George O. Massicotte age 29 in grave 5, Sgt Joseph M. McPherson age 22 in grave 1 and Sgt Herbert G. Robinson age 24 in grave 4. The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew member was Sgt Edmund Guinan age 32 in grave 2.
The other RAF crew member Sgt L. Ellis survived the crash and he became then a prisoner of war.

He served with the 431 Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Pilot Officer
Unit:
No. 431 (Iroquois) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:
January 27th, 1947
RCAF Operational Wings

Sources