Ian Donaldson died on take-off in a Royal Air Force Hastings, a four-engined transport plane based on a wartime bomber design. His aircraft pitched up at 150 feet, stalled and spun in. All on board were killed. An investigation showed the elevator trim tab had been set to full climb.
KILLED IN ACCIDENT
FLYING OFFICER DONALDSON
ENGAGED IN BERLIN AIR LIFT
It is reported from London that Flying Officer Ian Ronald Donaldson, aged 26, whose parents reside at 21 De Lacy street, Ravensbourne, was killed in an aircraft accident last week. Flying Officer Donaldson had been attached to the Royal Air Force for four years and during the past year had been engaged on the Berlin air lift.
Flying Officer Donaldson was educated at the King Edward Technical College, and he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force at the age of 18, being later assigned to the air-sea rescue service in the Pacific. He was mentioned in despatches for landing on the sea to pick up some shipwrecked American seamen. Owing to the big waves, his Catalina was unable to take off, one of the floats being destroyed, but an American destroyer picked up the crew of the aircraft and the Americans.
After his demobilisation in 1945, Flying Officer Donaldson returned to work with Butterfields, Ltd., but he did not remain in Dunedin long as he was granted a short service commission with the RAF and left for England at the end of that year.
Flying Officer Donaldson was a member of the Otago Aero Club, holding A and B pilot’s licences. He was also associated with the Ravensbourne Yachting Club. His wife and two children are at present in England. -Otago Daily Times, 20/7/1949.
Ian Donaldson was the only New Zealander to die during the Berlin Airlift. He is buried in Berlin, not far from other New Zealanders who died while bombing the city during world war Two.
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