MacDonald, Duncan Hildrain
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Duncan Hildrain |
Surname | MacDonald |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 09-10-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of John MacDonald and Mary Jane MacDonald (née McIntyre), of New Waterford, Nova Scoti, Canada |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LK647 |
Markings | IP-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hamburg Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 10A. D. 7. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 202 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/22619 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 434 (Bluenose) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Former Control Tower, old Tholthorpe airfield site, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Born on 29 January 1917 at New Waterford, Nova Scotia. His father was born in Acton, N.S. and worked as a Miner and his mother, who predeceased Duncan, was born in Bridgeport, N.Scotia. His sister, Mrs. Mary Belle Gouthro was nominated as his next of kin. She lived at Gordon Street, New Waterford. Duncan also had two more married sisters and one brother John Hugh. He attended St Agnes Convent New Waterford 1923-1934 (General Course) followed by Central High School 1934-1935 (Junior Matric). He spent six months training with the R.C.E (Royal Canadian Engineers), 8th Field Company, at Petawawa Camp. He worked as a Miner for Dominion Coal between 1935-40 and then as a clerk at United Steel, in Welland during 1941. |
Duncan enlisted on 30 May 1941 and after training embarked for the U.K. on 3 February 1943. He arrived at 3PRC on 13 February 1943, 9 (0) AFU 12 April 1943, 22 OTU on 19 May 1943 and 434 Squadron on 27 August 1943. |
Duncan enjoyed his sports which were...hockey, baseball, football and basketball and his hobby was the radio. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 08-10-1943 |
End Date | 09-10-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Tholthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (74% moon) |
Operation | Hanover. 504 aircraft and the last to include Wellingtons, none of which were Lost 27 Lancasters and Halifaxes were Lost (5.4%). The Germans had correctly assumed that Hanover was the target and there was much night-fighter activity as a result. The conditions were clear and both marking and the subsequent bombing were accurate and concentrated, with little creepback. The electrical, water and telephone services were destroyed in what was Hanover's worst attack of the war. An impressive marshalling regime on the ground concentrated the public into areas between the fires, saving many lives. Even so, 1200 people were killed and 3345 injured. almost 4000 buildings were destroyed amongst which were the Continental rubber factory and Hanomag machine works. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter on return leg |