Date of birth:

September 4th, 1910 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaya)

Date of death:

June 9th, 1940

Mentioned on:

Air Forces Memorial Runnymede

Service number:

32074

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

John Donaldson was the brother of Teddy and Arthur Donaldson.
He led 263 Squadron during both Norwegian expeditions.
Donaldson took part in the successful evacuation of fighters from Narvik on 8 June 1940 when he and nine other pilots from 263 Squadron landed their Gladiators aboard HMS Glorious. However, this successful evacuation was negated when the carrier was sunk by the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau later in the day with the loss of almost all aboard, Donaldson being one of them.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Squadron Leader

Unit:

No. 263 (Fellowship of the Bellows) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

May 10th, 1940

Citation:
"This officer commanded a squadron during the operations at Aandalsnes. In spite of the great difficulties encountered, numerous successful attacks on enemy aircraft were carried out under the skilful and extremely courageous leadership of Squadron Leader Donaldson. On one day alone the squadron is thought to have accounted for fourteen enemy aircraft, six being shot down and eight others put out of action."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Squadron Leader

Awarded on:

July 11th, 1940

Since reported missing.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Squadron Leader

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1941

Since reported missing.

• - The London Gazette Issue 34847 published on the 10 May 1940
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 34893 published on the 9 July 1940
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35029 published on the 31 December 1940
  - Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War
  

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