Ian Donald Roy McDonald


Captain Ian Donald Roy McDonald was a British World War I flying ace credited with 20 aerial victories. Although born in the British West Indies, he returned to England to serve in the air force. After his successful career in combat, he spent a short while at home before returning to the colours. He served in Iraq postwar, and was executed there by insurgents.

Early life

Although McDonald was born in the Caribbean, he was a British citizen. His father was a legislator.

World War I service

The younger McDonald joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and became a fighter pilot. On 26 April 1917, he was appointed a flying officer with the rank of temporary second lieutenant. He was first assigned to 39 Squadron. From there, he transferred to A Flight, 24 Squadron on 11 July 1917. Flying an Airco DH.5, he scored his first three victories between 30 November and 10 December 1917. Then the squadron upgraded to Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as. McDonald began to score with his new machine; his second victory on 26 February 1918, shared with Ronald T. Mark, Herbert Richardson, and three other pilots, made McDonald an ace.
McDonald missed scoring in March, but was appointed as a flight commander with the rank of temporary captain on the 15th. He tallied six wins in April, four in May, and three in the first week in June. Then, on 17 June, teaming with Horace Barton, George Owen Johnson, and C. E. Walton, he forced down into captivity one of Germany's leading aces, Kurt Wüsthoff. Four days later, McDonald went for a rest. He had become the squadron's second scoring ace.

List of aerial victories

No.Date/timeAircraft/
Serial No.
FoeResultLocationNotes
115 November 1917
@ 1330 hours
DH.5
s/n A9471
Albatros D.IIIDriven down out of controlSoutheast of Dixmude, Belgium
230 December 1917
@ 1235 hours
DH.5
s/n A9339
German reconnaissance aircraftDriven down out of controlFontaine
310 December 1917
@ 1200 hours
DH.5
s/n A9257
Albatros D.VDestroyedSouth of Honnecourt-sur-Escaut, France
426 February 1918
@ 0840 hours
SE.5a
s/n C1057
Fokker TriplaneDestroyedEast of Laon, France
526 February 1918
@ 0900 hours
SE.5a
s/n C1057
Fokker TriplaneDestroyedEast of Samoussy, FranceVictory shared with Ronald Mark, Herbert Richardson, James Dawe, two other pilots
67 April 1918
@ 1550 hours
SE.5a
s/n C9613
Albatros D.VDestroyedBois de Moreuil, France
711 April 1918
@ 1655 hours
SE.5a
s/n C9613
LVG reconnaissance aircraftDriven down out of controlVillers-Bretonneux, France
812 April 1918
@ 1615 hours
SE.5a
s/n C9613
Albatros D.VDestroyedBetween Hangard and Moreuil, France
912 April 1918
@ 1615 hours
SE.5a
s/n C9613
Albatros D.VDriven down out of controlBetween Hangard and Moreuil, France
1020 April 1918
@ 0955 hours
SE.5a
s/n C9613
Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedSouth of Morcourt, France
1123 April 1918
@ 1445 hours
SE.5a
s/n C9613
Pfalz D.IIIDestroyedSouth of Warfusée
123 May 1918
@ 1835 hours
SE.5a
s/n C9613
Fokker TriplaneDestroyedLe Quesnel, France
1316 May 1918
@ 0615 hours
SE.5a
s/n D279
Albatros D.VDriven down out of controlFoucaucourt, France
1428 May 1918
@ 0600 hours
SE.5a
s/n D3444
Fokker D.VIIDriven down out of controlMaricourt, France
1531 May 1918
@ 1730 hours
SE.5a
s/n D3444
Albatros D.VDestroyedBecquigny, France
162 June 1918
@ 1115 hours
SE.5a
s/n D3444
Siemens-Schuckert D.IIIDestroyedContoire, France
173 June 1918
@ 1120 hours
SE.5a
s/n D3444
Albatros reconnaissance aircraftDestroyedSoutheast of Marcelcave, FranceVictory shared with James Dawe
185 June 1918
@ 0805 hours
SE.5a
s/n D3444
Observation balloonDestroyedMoreuil, France
197 June 1918
@ 1145 hours
SE.5a
s/n D3444
Fokker TriplaneDestroyedRosières, France
2017 June 1918
@ 1200 hours
SE.5a
s/n D3444
Fokker D.VIIForced down and capturedCachy, FranceVictory over Blue Max winner Kurt Wusthoff shared with Horace Barton, George Owen Johnson, C. E. Walton

Post World War I

He exited the Royal Air Force in early 1919 and went home to Antigua, suffering from eye strain. He then returned to the RAF, gaining a permanent commission as a lieutenant on 1 August 1919 and becoming an instructor at RAF Cranwell. In 1920, he was assigned to flight operations in Iraq. On 22 September 1920, he flew DH.9a no. F2838 on a relief expedition to drop food to a stranded boat, the Greenfly. He was shot down by ground fire at Samawahon, and seen to wade ashore. He was executed at Dangatora. He is commemorated on Panels 43 and 64 of the Basra Memorial.

Honours and awards

;Distinguished Flying Cross
;Military Cross