Operation: Rhubarb

Date: 12th June 1944 (Monday)

Unit: 165 (Ceylon) Squadron (motto: Infensa virtuti invidia - 'Envy is the foe of virtue'), 19 Group Fighter Command

Type: Spitfire IX

Serial: MK471

Code: SK:N

Base: RAF Preddanack, Cornwall

Location: West of Lambelle, France

Pilot: Plt Off. Donald Moffat-Wilson 173334 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

Note: The name "Ceylon" was added in recognition of the Island of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, raising the funding to originally equip the squadron.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 11:30 hrs on Rhubarb 278 operation with three others. During this operation in the afternoon whilst attacking a military transport convoy west of Lambelle his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in a field west of the town.

Also lost from the squadron during the same operation:

Spitfire IX MK567 SK:Q - Flown by, Flt Sgt. James Johnston McLean 417080 RNZAF from Auckland, New Zealand. Missing after baling out and seen climbing into his dingy some 70 miles south of Start Point, South Devon, England.

During this day 10 pilots were killed or missing, 2 injured with 6 others safe after either baling out or crash landing. 10 Spitfires and 8 Typhoon aircraft were lost.

Above: Sherborne School, Dorset - Any further information that you are able to assist them with fallen former pupils from all wars, we would be pleased to pass onto them.

Donald Moffat-Wilson attended Sherborne Preparatory School. Attended Sherborne School (Lyon House) May 1937-July 1941:

Obituary: 'The Shirburnian', July 1945: 'Donald Moffat-Wilson, Flying Officer, RAF, came to Sherborne from the Prep. where he had shown himself a promising footballer and was also a King's Scout. At one time it looked as though he must get into the XV, but knee trouble intervened and the promise did not materialise. He was in the School boxing team and was a School Prefect and a promising mathematician. On leaving he went to a Scottish University, where one of the authorities later declared him to be the finest character he had met. He came back from his training in America quite unspoiled and started "what he had always wanted to do and dreamed about." In a sweep over France last June he was shot down and nothing has been heard since. His Squadron Leader has told of the respect and affection with which he was regarded.'

His elder brother, Guy Patrick Moffatt-Wilson was a former pupil at Wrekin College, Shropshire during 1930-34.Guy was commissioned to the Royal Artillery early in 1936 after passing out from the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. In early 1944 as a Captain in the army he transferred to the RAF with a drop in rank to Pilot Officer (54738) and based at RAF Pendeford, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.

Plt Off. Guy Patrick Hamilton Moffat-Wilson took his own life through a self-inflicted gunshot wound whilst off duty on the airfield on Sunday 3rd December 1944 at the age of 28. It is believed the deaths of his father and brother in June of that year was a contributing factor.

He is buried at the Wolverhampton Borough Cemetery Grave 43. Grave inscription: “:UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY”.

Burial details:

Plt Off. Donald Moffat-Wilson. Bayeux War Cemetery. Grave XVII.F.4. Grave inscription: "BELOVED SON OF GUY AND EDITH MOFFAT-WILSON. IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY". Born on the 23rd February 1923. Son of Guy Burgo and Edith Moffat-Wilson of Trentham, Stillorgan, Dublin, Irish Republic.

A tribute to Plt Off. Moffat-Wilson has been posted here.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) for relatives of the pilot. With thanks to Sherborne School Archives for additional information. Thanks to James Mclean for the image of 156 Squadron (Apr 2020). Thanks to Jeremy Elsworth for the tragic detail of Guy Patrick Hamilton Moffat-Wilson's death (Oct 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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