Donne, Michael Stephen

Date of birth:: April 2nd, 1917
Date of death:: May 11th, 1940 (Numansdorp/Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves General Cemetery Numansdorp
Row: D. Grave: 3.
Service number:: 33186
Nationality:: British

Biography

On July 31, 1937, he graduated as a Pilot Officer (2nd Lt.) and was assigned to the operational No. 17 (fighter) squadron at RAF Kenly air base, located in Greater London.
This was one of three air bases assigned to the defense of London.
On January 31, 1939, Michael was promoted to Flying Officer (1st Lt.) within RAF No. 17 Squadron.
In 1939, at the age of 22, Michael married Constance Sylvia Chaplin, who was ten years his senior.
The wedding took place in Fakenham, a civil parish in the administrative area of North Norfolk, located in the English county of Norfolk.
On May 11, 1940, at around 4:30 p.m., Michael took off from Martlesham Heath Air Base, England, in a Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 with serial number N2556 and fuselage code YB-I. This would be his last flight.
After about half an hour of flying, Michael arrived in the airspace above Rotterdam. He and his fellow pilots were attacked by higher-flying Messerschmitt Bf-109s. Michael was shot down near Numansdorp and managed to make an emergency landing on the property of W.A. Quartel on West-Biesakkersweg.
However, he was seriously injured because a bullet had pierced the back of the armor plate of his seat and entered his body. The bullet was removed from the right side of his chest at the scene. F/L Michael Donne was then transferred to the infirmary of the 34th Infantry Regiment.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Sources

Photo 1: Oorlogsgravenstichting
Photo 2: Oorlogsgravenstichting
- Michael Stephen Donne | Oorlogsgravenstichting
- 17 Squadron Hurricane N2556 Fl/Lt. Donne Martlesham Heath Rotterdam Biesakkersweg, Holland
- Corin Gelderblom
- https://www.wo2.museumhw.nl/