Operation: Training

Date: 20th October 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit No: 236 Squadron (motto: Speculate nuntiate - 'Having watched, bring word'), 16 Group

Type: Beaufighter VIC

Serial: EL280

Code: ND:V

Base: RAF North Coates, Lincolnshire

Location: South East of airfield

Pilot: Sqn Ldr. George Rodoway Macdonald MiD, 36191 RAF Age 23. Killed (1)

Obs: Flt Lt. Alexander Kerr 107056 RAF Age? Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

EL280 piloted by 'B' Flight's Commanding Officer with Flt Lt. Kerr from 16 Group HQ on a local flying exercise.

At 11:35 hrs whilst pulling out of a dive from 3000 feet at 500 feet above the sea, both of the aircraft's elevators were seen to detach from the aircraft which subsequently crashed onto North Coates beach where it caught fire.

The structural failure was attributed to two modifications having not been made to the airframe after a similar accident to another of the squadron's aircraft 3 months previously.

(1) George Rodoway Macdonald worked as a shepherd prior to service with J.A.P. Cameron of Ben Ohau, South Island. Accepted for RAF short service commission on the 23rd May 1938. RNZAF and Canty Aero Club as pilot under training on the 20th June 1938. Appointed to a commission on the 13th September 1938. 'A' licence obtained on the 10th October 1938. Pilots Wings awarded on the 17th December 1938.

Embarked for England the 17th April 1939. Joined 48 squadron on the 3rd June 1939 flying the Anson and Hudson. Attached to 206 and then 502 squadron (no dates available). Joined No. 6 Coastal Operational Training Unit (OTU (C)) on the 21st January 1942 as an instructor. Then No. 21 OTU (C)) on the 7th September 1942. Finally joining 236 Squadron on the 14th September 1942.

His Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) was promulgated in the London Gazette on the 11th June 1942.

A total of 1790 flying hours logged and over 300 operations flown.

Above: L-R: Rear; James Alfred Paterson 36193 - Killed 27th September 1940, J.A Poulsen, M.J Hunter, Frank Hugh Long 36190 - Killed 13th March 1941, William John Farnsworth 1964 - Killed 21st March 1945, Albert Samuel Agar 1063 - Died 13th December 1985, I.L Gray.

Front; Arthur Mitchell Paape 36192 - Killed 03rd April 1943, T.A Stewart, Laurenc (401787) Hugh Edwards NZ/2341 PoW 05th September 1939, George Rodoway MacDonald 36191 - Killed 20th October 1942, Ernest William Tacon 36196 - Died 09th September 2003.

Burial details:

Sqn Ldr. George Rodoway Macdonald MiD. Belfast City Cemetery. Sec.1. Grave 16. Born on the 20th November 1918 at Waikuku. Son of Ronald and Catherine Mabel Annie Macdonald (nee Scott), of Waikuku, North Canterbury, New Zealand.

Flt Lt. Alexander Kerr. Glasgow New Cemetery (Eastwood) . Sec. H. Grave 376. Husband of Catherine Beatrice Chatfield, of Glasgow, Scotland.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand. Thanks to Antonio McDonald for the update to the aircraft code (Jun 2025)

Other sources listed below:

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