Saville, Donald Teale
Personal Information
Rank | W/C |
Forename(s) | Donald Teale |
Surname | Saville |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | DSO, DFC |
Date of Death | 25-07-1943 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | BF567 |
Markings | HA-P |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hamburg Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 4A. B. 1-5. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 238 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 74738 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 218 (Gold Coast) |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Mary's Church, Bexwell, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of the squadrons based at R.A.F. Downham Market and those who have their lives during the 1939 - 1945 war |
Location | All Saints Church, Chedburgh, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | RoH and Sqn Crest |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and scroll remembering the members of the Royal and Polish Air Forces who served at RAF Chedburgh 1942 - 1946 |
Miscellaneous Information
He was an Australian serving in the RAF and, before taking command of 218, had flown tours with 458 and 104 Squadrons. This was his 58th operation |
DSO Citation, London Gazette, 27 July 1943: "This officer has completed a very large number of sorties and has displayed outstanding determination to achieve success. He is a fearless commander, who invariably chooses to participate in the more difficult sorties which have to be undertaken. Whatever the opposition, Wing Commander Saville endeavours to press home his attacks with accuracy .and resolution. By his personal example and high qualities of leadership, this officer has contributed materially to the operational efficiency of the squadron". |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1351/14 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1351/13 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 24-07-1943 |
End Date | 25-07-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Downham Market |
Day/Night Raid | Night (42% moon) |
Operation | Hamburg. 791 aircraft, 12 losses (1.5%). Clear conditions over the target and only a light wind. This was the first raid in which Window was used. A mixture of H2S and visual marking was used and although initial bombing was concentrated, creepback was particularly evident with a corridor of fire some 6 miles long developing. Approximately 1500 civilian deaths- the greatest number in a raid outside the reach of Oboe. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed north of Neümunster after being partially abandoned |