Ivers, Donald Arthur
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Donald Arthur |
Surname | Ivers |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Date of Death | 01-10-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Henry and Yvonne Ivers (née Boulay), of Waterville, Maine, USA. Husband of Sally Rebecca Ivers (née Platt), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They married in Montreal on 26 September 1936. Father of Dawne Maureen (born 11 March 1939, Cambridge) and David Scott Ivers (born 19 August 1940 in Boston). |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | DT520 |
Markings | ZA-J |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Denmark |
Burial/Memorial Place | Odense (Assistens) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave BD. 377. |
Epitaph | IN LOVING MEMORY OF A DEAR HUSBAND AND FATHER |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 187 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/123215 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 10 |
Squadron Motto | Rem acu tengere (To hit the mark) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Other Memorials
Location | Melbourne, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial Stone & Plaque |
Memorial Text | No 10 Squadron, 4 Group Bomber Command, WWII 1939-1945. This memorial was erected at the entrance to the former RAF Station Melbourne by ex Members and Friends of the Squadron to honour the memory of all personnel who died in the service of their Country |
Location | Melbourne Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Runway Light in Concrete Base |
Memorial Text | Let this landing light be a memorial to all those 1,000 aircrew and 120 aircraft that left this very point never to return so that we may return again and again in freedom to enjoy York Motor Sport Park |
Location | Roadside location (off E6), Fættenfjord, near Åsenfjord, Trøndelag Fylke |
Country | Norway |
Memorial Type | Inscribed memorial stone atopped with inert aerial sea mine and Tirpitz anchor chain link |
Memorial Text |
For Frihet Til minne om Allierte Flymannskaper fra RAF drept under angrep pa det tyske slagskipet Tirpitz i Fættenfjord 1942
Translation "For freedom In memory of the Allied Aircrews from the RAF who died in attacks on the German Battleship Tirpitz in the Fættenfjord 1942 " |
Miscellaneous Information
One of four 10 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this raid |
Donald was born on 8 July 1915 at Waterville, Maine, USA. His father was a bricklayer, born in Portland, Maine, and his mother was born in Berlin, New Hampshire. He had two elder brothers, one a Radio Technician and the other a truck driver. He attended Ellis School 1921-1928 (General) followed by Rinoce Tech 1928-1932 (mechanical). His sport interests were baseball and motorcycle racing, the latter being his main interest. He also enjoyed bowling for leisure. Donald went to work for Motorcycles Inc. as a mechanic and Race driver, 1934-1938; as a mechanic for Hugh Auto Repair 1938-1940 and finally as a transport truck driver for C.J. Rogers, Detroit 1940-1941. |
Donald enlisted on 5 August 1941 (while the United States was still neutral) and after training embarked from Canada arriving in the U.K. at 3PRC on 12 May 1942. He then went to 7 AGS 20 June 1942, No.10 Flt. 14 July 1942 and 10 Squadron on 9 August 1942. Sadly Donald lost his life on 1 October 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/143/20 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/143/19 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-10-1942 |
End Date | 02-10-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Melbourne |
Day/Night Raid | Night (54% moon) |
Operation | Flensburg. 27 Halifax sorties, 12 lost (44.4%). Good bombing results but at a high cost to 4 Group |
Reason for Loss | Crashed just off the Danish coast |