Donkersley, Harry Woodward

Home in Powell River, British Columbia or Moosomin, Saskatchewan; enlisted in Vancouver 9 January 1941. Trained at No.2 ITS (graduated 20 June 1941), No.5 EFTS (graduated 8 August 1941), and No.7 SFTS (graduated 23 October 1941). To No.7 OTU, 11 May 1942; to No.69 Squadron (Malta), 6 September 1942;-to UK, 8 March 1943. DFC and Bar presented at Buckingham Palace, 23 March 1943. Killed with three others 16 January 1944 when Beechcraft HB100 went missing between No.32 OTU and Vancouver, name on Ottawa Memorial.32 Operational Training Unit, Patricia Bay, British Columbia. Flight Lieutenant Donkersley earned both his decorations while he was assigned to 69 Squadron, one citation reads, "In sorties against enemy shipping this officer has achieved much success. One night in Nov , 1942, he captained an aircraft detailed to drop flares over Italian naval units, and accomplished his task successfully. Several nights later he attacked and sank a small merchant vessel. On another night, in Dec , 1942, he participated in an operation against an important enemy convoy in the Mediterranean. As a result other air and surface forces were enabled to strike successfully; two merchant vessels were sunk and one badly damaged. Pilot Officer Donkersley is a courageous leader who has displayed great initiative in the face of the enemy." Flight Lieutenant Donkersley was killed when Beechcraft aircraft HB 100 crashed near Patricia Bay during a a ferry flight from Rockcliffe, Ontario to Patricia Bay, British Columbia. Flying Officer E. Sowerby, S/Ls J.G. Flaherty, and J. Pringle (RAF) were also killed. Addendum: - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.69 Squadron - Award effective 8 November 1942 as per London Gazette dated 20 November 1942 and AFRO 1962/42 dated 4 December 1942. The citation reads - "This officer has recently achieved much success against enemy shipping. One day in October 1942, he attacked a tanker, inflicting severe damage. A few nights later he located and attacked a convoy of four merchant ships escorted by several destroyers. After making his attack he returned to base; rearmed and made a second attack. Early next morning reconnaissance aircraft carried [out] a search over a wide area in the vicinity of the attack and observed that three of the enemy ships were missing. Some nights later Pilot Officer Donkersley attacked one of two ships escorted by destroyers, setting the vessel on fire. Later it was learned that the ship had sunk. The success which attended his efforts deprived the enemy of much fuel so vital for the battle in Africa." DONKERSLEY, Pilot Officer Harry Woodward (58203) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross -No.69 Squadron - Award effective 26 December 1942 as per London Gazette dated 29 December 1942 and AFRO 185/43 dated 5 February 1943. The citation for this award is shown on page 188 Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.