Machum, Donald Blair
Personal Information
Rank | WO2 |
Forename(s) | Donald Blair |
Surname | Machum |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | MiD |
Date of Death | 29-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Ralph and Laura Ada Thompson Machum, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. His Brother Ian Also Died On Service. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington X |
Serial Number | HE199 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Brookwood Military Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 49. E. 3. |
Epitaph | BORN IN HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA. OUR DEAR SONS ARE REUNITED. IAN, R.C.A.F. KILLED JANUARY 1943 AND BURIED IN HIS HOME TOWN |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 66 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/153082 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 93 |
Squadron | 82 OTU |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Holy Rood Church, Ossington, Nottinghamshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those personnel from RAF Ossington who worshipped at Ossington church, 1941 to 1946 |
Miscellaneous Information
Enlisted Nova Scotia 9 February 1942. Trained at No.5 ITS (graduated 15 August 1942), No.13 EFTS (graduated 20 November 1942) and No.1 SFTS (graduated 30 April 1943). |
File MR153082 P.1d An enquiry was received from a relative of W.O. D.B. Machum R.153082 (Deceased) who was killed in an aircraft accident on 29th May, 1944 while he was acting as pilot of a Wellington aircraft that was shot down by a friendly fighter on returning to the United Kingdom from an operation in France. The query raised concerned the possibility of an award to this airman. Complete details were sought from various sources and after consideration of the whole case, it was thought by this section that W.O. Machum had, indeed, deserved some recognition, as it was brought out in the evidence of the Court of Inquiry held at R.A.F. Station, Ossington, 30th May 1944, that W.O. Machum held the aircraft steady to enable the crew to bale out. On presenting this case to Air Ministry, it was pointed out that W.O. Macham did not complete his training at the time he became a casualty, and it was felt that in following out the best traditions of the service at a period when his operational experience was no doubt limited, should merit some recognition. Air Ministry advised 25.4.45 that the Honours and Awards Committee have decided to award a Mention in Despatches to W.O. Machum, and same would appear in New Years Honours List, 1945. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-05-1944 |
End Date | 29-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Ossington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (41% moon) |
Operation | Nickel operation, Nantes |
Reason for Loss | Supposedly hit by anti-aircraft fire as it crossed the Dorset coast near Gillingham but in fact was shot down by a Mosquito fighter according to the official accident report. Three of the crew managed to bail out before the Wellington crashed near Shaftsbury. The accident record states that the pilot of the Wellington failed to identify himself in the correct manner. The fighter pilot stated that he had not been informed of the liklihood of Wellingtons being in the area and had he been so informed, he would probably have recognised them even though they did not respond correctly when challenged. No action was taken against the Mosquito pilot (P/O Webbe) due to the extenuating circumstances and the anguish that this incident had undoubtedly caused him. |