LEST WE FORGET
Squadron Leader Douglas MacKenzie DAVIDSON DFC
Commanding Officer, No. 453 Squadron (27 August 1945 – 6 January 1946)
Service No: 402321
Born: Sydney NSW, 13 December 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 august 1940
Unit: No. 453 Squadron
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 9 June 1944
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 453 Squadron Spitfire aircraft), Kent, 6 January 1946, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey
CWGC Additional Information: Son of James Mill Davidson and Lucy Davidson, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Ada Marian Davidson, of Worthing, Sussex, England
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 105, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Australia Remembers 1945-1995 Memorial, Lane Cove NSW
DFC Citation (for service with No. 450 Squadron RAAF): “Flight Lieutenant Davidson has served in the Western Desert, Tunisia, Sicily and Italy. This officer is now on his second tour of operational duty, having completed his first under extremely adverse conditions. In January 1944, Flight Lieutenant Davidson attacked a medium size enemy merchantman which was sunk. A month later, he has successfully led the Squadron in attacks on enemy communications and airfields, and has, himself, destroyed at least one enemy aircraft. This officer has at all times displayed great courage and devotion to duty.” (London Gazette 9 June 1944, page 2757)
On 6 January 1946, a Spitfire flown by Squadron Leader Davidson, Commanding Officer No. 453 Squadron, crashed at 1500 hours at Witchling, Kent, and he was killed.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/9/811
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line