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| Image courtesy of the "Aircrew Remembered" page. |
Neil MacDonald was a Southland boy, educated at the Southland Boys' High School and working as a clerk at ther National Mortgage and Agency Company when he enlisted in the Air Force. He learned to fly at Taieiri, near Dunedin and then at Wigram, near Christchurch. In January, 1943, he leaft for Britain and the war. More advanced training went on before he was posted to an operational squadron, 33, in August.
No. 33 Squadron RAF was flying Spitfires out of Glamorgam, Scotland, at the time but moved to Lympne in England to fly fighter support for D-Day and later began to operate from France on ground-attack missions. 33 moved back to Britain at the end of 1944 to re-equip with the Hawker Tempest.
Neil MacDonald took off at 1030hrs in a Tempest fighter for some local flying practice. While doing so, he experienced engine failure and decided to force land his plane. Neil had the misfortune to hit a stone wall 80 metres after his emergency touchdown. His Tempest burst into flame on impact. Possibly stunned by the crash, Neil did not stand a chance.
The cause of the engine failure was traced to a broken connecting rod.
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| Neill MacDonald's funeral. Courtesy of the "Aircrew Remembered" page. |
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| Invercargill Cemetery. |
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