MacDonald, Ronald Edwin (Flight Sergeant)

77 Squadron (Esse Potius Quam Videri), Halifax aircraft JB 863 took off on an operation to France and two minutes later crashed in a cornfield one quarter of a mile south of Heslington Village, near York, Yorkshire. Six of the crew, not Canadians, were also killed. Addendum: The squadron was based at Elvington when Halifax aircraft JB 863 KN-V crashed just after take off for operations over Le Creusot, France. The six RAF members of the crew who were also killed were; F/S(s) N.R. Holledge buried in Homchurch, W. Cooke buried in Windsor, Sgt(s) A.H. Gurry buried in Ilford, F. Danby buried in Liverpool, D.H. Clinch buried in Caerphilly, and Flying Officer A.W.S. Young buried in Wembley. This completes this crew list. Detail from "Some of the Many" by Roy Walker, Kent, England. Addendum: R. Allenby notes the cause of the accident was believed to be an engine failure, and that the crash site was not completely cleared of explosives until 1950.