Donald Waters MacDonald, 0-22367

Donald Waters MacDonald was born on March 8, 1912 in San Mateo, California. His parents were William Griffith MacDonald and Olive Pitchford Waters MacDonald. Donald was the middle child of three sons. William was born in New York. He attended Stanford University for two years and then transferred to Harvard. Olive was the daughter of the well-known California engineer and Spreckels Sugar Company manager, William Cochrane Waters. In addition to two years of college, Olive traveled the European continent for six months with her parents in 1908. The marriage of William and Olive was mentioned in multiple San Francisco Bay Area Newspapers in 1909. In a Harvard alumni directory, William is quoted as saying No accomplishment worthy of mention before I was married. Since then my life has been that of a very happy, moderately successful manufacturer's agent. Following the birth of their third son in 1916, William was a Sales Manager based in San Francisco.

According to William’s 1917 World War 1 draft registration card, the family resided in La Jolla, San Diego County, California. William was the YMCA Athletic Director. According to the 1920 census, the family lived in San Diego township. William’s occupation was recorded as writer in the Literature Industry. The boys were attending school. There were two boarders in the home. A 1924 city directory indicates that the family was living in Coronado, California. William’s occupation was listed as writer.

According to the 1930 census, the three brothers (ages 19, 18 and 13) were living in Centerville, Douglas County, Nevada. No occupations were listed. The author was unable to locate either William or Olive in the 1930 census. Passenger lists show William traveling to Hawaii in July 1929. His home address was reported as Minden, Nevada. The three brothers traveled to Hawaii in June 1930 with Minden given as the home. Olive traveled to Hawaii in November 1930 with Honolulu reported as the U.S. address. 1934 San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records document that William died of influenza at age 49. His home address was La Jolla.

Donald appears in the 1932, 1933 and 1935 Editions of the University of Nevada’s Artemisia Yearbooks. During his college years in Reno, he was active in the Campus Players and the University Play Production Staff. He was a member of the UNR Military Department and participated on the rifle team. Donald’s time following graduation in 1935 was reported in 1940 and 1942 U.S. Select Military Registers. He participated as a Flying Cadet in the A.C. Primary Flying School in 1936 and was rated as a pilot. He completed A.C. Advanced Flying School, Bombardment Course in 1937. The February 24, 1937 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Donald graduated from the last Flying School class at Kelly Field, Texas. Donald was a Second Lieutenant in the Air Reserves through June 20, 1937 and placed on active duty from June 2, 1937 through August 14, 1939. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in October 1940. In 1942 he was promoted to Captain and then Major.

Regarding his personal life, Donald married Virginia native, Mildred Kathleen Dresser, while stationed at Langley Field. The marriage took place in Williamsburg, Virginia on August 8, 1938. In 1940, their first child, a son, was born in Atlanta Georgia. The 1940 census indicates that Donald’s occupation was Aviator with the U.S. Army. He was named for his father. Between 1940 and 1942, the family was stationed in Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Tribune reported that Donald provided service in Iceland, Greenland and Louisiana before leaving for foreign service in October 1942. Their second son was born in early 1943.

Donald served with the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bomb Group beginning in November 1942. He flew a B-24 Liberator named Betty Anne with the Flying Eight Balls. He flew one diversionary mission and five target missions over France. On February 15, 1943, Donald was serving as co-pilot when the plane was shot down with a crew of 11 men. The Betty Anne was flying in the lead position when it sustained severe damage flying over the target, the German Raider Togo, at Dunkirk, France. The aircraft crashed into the sea near Dunkirk. Captain and Pilot Arthur Cullen reported that Major MacDonald received a serious stomach wound. Despite the wound, Donald unstrapped his belt and escaped the plane, only to die on the operating table of a German Luftwaffe hospital in France, with the designation killed in action (KIA). Captain Cullen was wounded, made a prisoner of war and repatriated after 20 months. Four other crew members were KIA: 1st Lt. John L. Mackey, 2nd Lt. Paul D. Caldwell, T/Sgt. Samuel S Weiser and Sgt. James A. Hilley. Two crew members were designated MIA/KIA: T/Sgt. Albert W. Emery and S/Sgt. Thomas E. McKinsey. The remaining crew members became POWs: T/Sgt. David H. Wood, Sgt. Charles A. Arnold and Sgt. Jesse M. Norwood. The 578th had the highest missing in action losses (153 aircraft) of the 8th Air Force B-24 groups. It also claimed the most enemy fighters (330.)

Donald was awarded a purple heart and an air medal. An article and photograph in a May 13, 1943 Tampa Daily Times article features a colonel pinning the air medal for exceptionally meritorious achievement during five aerial combat missions over enemy occupied Europe on Donald’s three year old son Donald Waters MacDonald Junior. The younger son was three months old and was not part of the ceremony.

On May 31, 1949 Donald was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. The U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms indicate that Donald was returned “with the WWII Dead Program from St. Andre- Evreux France.” He is also honored at the University of Nevada, Reno on a gold star honor roll plaque along with 75 others who gave their lives during the war.

Donald’s younger brother, Henry Gordon MacDonald, was also a pilot. He was commanding officer (C.O.) of the 305th Bombardment Group from October 23, 1944 through April 22, 1946. This group had the nickname Can Do. His rank at that time was Colonel. He flew the B-17 Flying Fortress. According to a February 14, 1947 article in the Nevada State Journal, Henry had received a bachelors’ degree in mining engineering. While in Europe, he completed 29 missions. Henry was awarded one oak leaf cluster, the distinguished flying cross with one oak leaf cluster, the air medal with four oak leaf clusters, the British distinguished flying cross and the French Croix de Guerre. In 1947, he was the instructing chief of the bombardment section of the air tactical school at Tyndall Field, Florida.

Thank you, Donald Waters MacDonald, for your service and sacrifice for our freedom! It was an honor to write your story!

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3. These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything inaccurate in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Laura Hanaford at margaret83@cox.net or feedback@storiesbehindthestars.org.

References:

https://www.ancestry.com

US Census Records

familysearch.com

https://www.findagrave.com

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49251592/donald-waters-macdonald

Newspapers.com

Genealogybank.com

Fold3.com

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/46276

https://www.44thbombgroup.org/home