Arthur Gerald Donahue, DFC (29 January 1913 – 11 September 1942) was an American fighter pilot who volunteered to fly for the British Royal Air Force in World War II. He was one of 11 American pilots who flew with RAF Fighter Command between 10 July and 31 October 1940,[1] thereby qualifying for the Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939–45 campaign star. He was killed in action in September 1942.
Donahue was born to Frank and Ada Donahue on 29 January 1913 and was raised on a dairy farm near St. Charles, Minnesota.[2] He learned to fly as a teenager at the Conrad Flying Service, operated by Max Conrad, an aviator known as the "Flying Grandfather" who had set numerous world records for distance and endurance. Becoming Minnesota's youngest commercially certificated pilot at the age of 19, Donahue helped Conrad run the flight school until he left to enlist in the Royal Air Force.[3] He traveled to Canada, claimed to be Canadian, and was accepted.[4]
A week later, on 12 August, Donahue was wounded in combat over England's south coast in his Supermarine SpitfireMk. I. He was forced to bail out of his burning aircraft, and suffered burns and leg injuries.[4]
On 29 September 1940, Donahue was reassigned to No. 71 Squadron, one of three Eagle Squadrons, RAF units composed of American pilots,[4][5] but did not see combat with that unit. Because of the lack of action, he requested to be reassigned to No. 64 Squadron, arriving back there on 23 October.[4]
In February 1941, Donahue served with No. 91 Squadron, although in March he went on leave back to the USA. In October 1941 he was posted to No. 258 Squadron in the Far East, and participated in the Battle of Singapore, also seeing action over Sumatra in February 1942, where he was wounded by ground fire. After returning to England in mid-1942, he rejoined No 91 Squadron as a flight commander. He became the first American in RAF history to lead an all-English squadron.[3][dubious – discuss] He was credited with downing two enemy aircraft, with two more probables and one damaged. He was awarded four medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross on 27 March 1942.[2][3][4] The citation for the award read:[6]
This officer has carried out many low level reconnaissance sorties and.- has successfully attacked enemy shipping and ground objectives. On one occasion, whilst carrying out an attack against enemy troops attempting a landing, Flying Officer Donahue silenced the enemy's fire, thus enabling the rest of the formation to press home their attacks with impunity. He has destroyed several enemy aircraft.
— London Gazette
Death
Flight Lieutenant Donahue was killed in action on 11 September 1942, while a member of No. 91 Squadron. Attempting to intercept a Ju 88, his plane was hit by return fire and ditched in the English Channel. His body was never found.[2][3] Donahue once wrote in a letter to his parents, "My life may not be long, but it will be wide."[3] He is commemorated on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede in Surrey, England.[2]
Author
Donahue wrote two books about his RAF service, Tally-Ho! Yankee in a Spitfire and Last Flight from Singapore.[3]
Donahue, Arthur Gerald. (1944). Last Flight from Singapore. London: Macmillan & Company.
Donahue, Arthur Gerald (1942). Tally-Ho! Yankee in a Spitfire. New York: McMillan & Company.
Kershaw, Alex. (2006). The Few. Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo Press. ISBN978-0-306-81303-0
External links
Art Donahue at Find a grave
Battle of Britain pilots
4th Fighter Group WWII Official WWII Association Website Referenced 4 March 2012
January 04, 2023
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Arthur Gerald Donahue DFC 29 January 1913 11 September 1942 was an American fighter pilot who volunteered to fly for the British Royal Air Force in World War II He was one of 11 American pilots who flew with RAF Fighter Command between 10 July and 31 October 1940 1 thereby qualifying for the Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939 45 campaign star He was killed in action in September 1942 Arthur Gerald DonahueNickname s ArtBorn 1913 01 29 29 January 1913St Charles Minnesota United StatesDied11 September 1942 1942 09 11 aged 29 Over the English ChannelAllegianceUnited KingdomService wbr branchRoyal Air ForceYears of service1940 1942RankFlight LieutenantService number81624UnitNo 64 Squadron RAFNo 71 Squadron RAFNo 91 Squadron RAFNo 258 Squadron RAFBattles warsWorld War II Battle of Britain Battle of SingaporeAwardsDistinguished Flying CrossOther workAuthor Contents 1 Early life 2 Royal Air Force service 2 1 Death 2 2 Author 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksEarly life EditDonahue was born to Frank and Ada Donahue on 29 January 1913 and was raised on a dairy farm near St Charles Minnesota 2 He learned to fly as a teenager at the Conrad Flying Service operated by Max Conrad an aviator known as the Flying Grandfather who had set numerous world records for distance and endurance Becoming Minnesota s youngest commercially certificated pilot at the age of 19 Donahue helped Conrad run the flight school until he left to enlist in the Royal Air Force 3 He traveled to Canada claimed to be Canadian and was accepted 4 Royal Air Force service EditAfter training with No 7 Operational Training Unit Donahue was assigned to No 64 Squadron at RAF Kenley on 3 August 1940 Two days later he saw combat against Messerschmitt Bf 109s off the French coast and suffered serious damage to his aircraft forcing him to land at RAF Hawkinge 4 Donahue thus became one of ten Americans to fly for the RAF in the Battle of Britain in 1940 3 A week later on 12 August Donahue was wounded in combat over England s south coast in his Supermarine Spitfire Mk I He was forced to bail out of his burning aircraft and suffered burns and leg injuries 4 On 29 September 1940 Donahue was reassigned to No 71 Squadron one of three Eagle Squadrons RAF units composed of American pilots 4 5 but did not see combat with that unit Because of the lack of action he requested to be reassigned to No 64 Squadron arriving back there on 23 October 4 In February 1941 Donahue served with No 91 Squadron although in March he went on leave back to the USA In October 1941 he was posted to No 258 Squadron in the Far East and participated in the Battle of Singapore also seeing action over Sumatra in February 1942 where he was wounded by ground fire After returning to England in mid 1942 he rejoined No 91 Squadron as a flight commander He became the first American in RAF history to lead an all English squadron 3 dubious discuss He was credited with downing two enemy aircraft with two more probables and one damaged He was awarded four medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross on 27 March 1942 2 3 4 The citation for the award read 6 This officer has carried out many low level reconnaissance sorties and has successfully attacked enemy shipping and ground objectives On one occasion whilst carrying out an attack against enemy troops attempting a landing Flying Officer Donahue silenced the enemy s fire thus enabling the rest of the formation to press home their attacks with impunity He has destroyed several enemy aircraft London Gazette Death Edit Flight Lieutenant Donahue was killed in action on 11 September 1942 while a member of No 91 Squadron Attempting to intercept a Ju 88 his plane was hit by return fire and ditched in the English Channel His body was never found 2 3 Donahue once wrote in a letter to his parents My life may not be long but it will be wide 3 He is commemorated on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede in Surrey England 2 Author Edit Donahue wrote two books about his RAF service Tally Ho Yankee in a Spitfire and Last Flight from Singapore 3 See also Edit Biography portalList of Battle of Britain pilots Non British personnel in the RAF during the Battle of BritainReferences Edit Battle of Britain Roll of Honour Archived from the original on 17 May 2015 Retrieved 6 January 2013 a b c d Commonwealth War Graves Commission a b c d e f g First hero St Charles man an early WWII hero Winona Daily News 11 November 2006 permanent dead link a b c d e f Battle of Britain pilots biographies Donahue 1942 p London Gazette 27 March 1942Bibliography EditDonahue Arthur Gerald 1944 Last Flight from Singapore London Macmillan amp Company Donahue Arthur Gerald 1942 Tally Ho Yankee in a Spitfire New York McMillan amp Company Kershaw Alex 2006 The Few Cambridge Mass Da Capo Press ISBN 978 0 306 81303 0External links EditArt Donahue at Find a grave Battle of Britain pilots 4th Fighter Group WWII Official WWII Association Website Referenced 4 March 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Art Donahue amp oldid 1089030169, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
