Choloy, France

Details:

12 May 1954 - F/O GD MacDonald

Comments by Don Norrie:

F/O GD MacDonald was a pilot with 430 Squadron at 2 (F) Wing, Grostenquin France. His aircraft (Sabre #19255) had a flame-out in the circuit and he was killed in an inadvertent ejection after crash landing.

Comments by Gaston Migneault:

On 12 May 1954, F/O GD MacDonald took off in his Sabre, shortly after which he had a flame out and pancaked his F-86 in a field not very far from the base. I had been the last one, except the FCO on duty, to talk to him as I had intercepted him just as he was climbing in his airplane to practice some approaches. We spoke for about five minutes and as it was very hot, I told him he was lucky as he would be able to feel the cooler air once airborne. He smiled (from one ear to the other) and believe me it is something I have never forgotten. I saluted him, turned around and walked to the truck I had left behind the first hangar. As I boarded the panel truck, I heard the engine of his F86 roar. I drove towards the guardhouse at the main gate and got the radio message to rush as we had a plane crash on our hands. As I got to the guardhouse, Sgt Joe Trepanier (who was bossy and senior to me) was standing at the gate and when I stopped. He told me to move over as he would drive me to the crash and then get the Gendarmes from the village of Grostenquin. He was a reckless driver and he scared me to death. When we got to the field, we could see the crashed airplane so he dropped me off and turned around while I ran to the airplane. F/O MacDonald was still in his seat. I did not it was him until I removed his helmet. He had a broken arm and there did not appear to be much life left in him. I managed to pull him away from the airplane which was in one piece except the cockpit and the undercarrage had not been extended. I managed to take him out of his seat taking great care not to hurt him anymore and keep his broken arm straight alongside of him. Smoke could be seen coming from the nose of the aircraft and then flames. There were a few explosions and it sounded as if shrapnels were flying our way. I tried to cover his body with mine as I thought he was still alive. I could hear the field ambulance on its way as well as the crash fire truck. When the ambulance arrived, the medic took over. I started to deal with French people that were arriving from every direction. As I was walking in a circle arond the plane as far away as I could, I noticed a drawer of ammunition had opened up so I picked a shell and scared the people away with it. When the fire truck arrived as well as the other Air Force Policemen and the Gendarmes I was exhausted so they sent me back to the base. This was the firest crash that I attended. When I arrived at the station, I went to the Hospital to learn from F/O Gagne that F/O Macdonald was dead. I remarked I had risked my life to save a dead person. F/O Gagne said "Moose, never regret what you did as you did it thinking he was still alive and that is what counted". At his funeral service, his father who was a Protestant Minister, made a speech that brought tears in the eyes of many tough looking guys... like me.