LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Alan Harvey McDONALD
Service No: 418456
Born: Albert Park VIC, 6 October 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 22 May 1942
Unit: No. 158 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Lissett
Died: Air Operations: (No. 158 Squadron Halifax aircraft LM261), Germany, 22 September 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Hanover War Cemetery, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Leonard James McDonald and Ina Mabel McDonald, of Lake Rowan, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Benalla VIC
Remembered: Panel 126, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1906 hours on the night of 22 September 1943 Halifax LM261 took off from Lissett detailed to bomb Hanover, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base. It was considered that LM261 was probably shot down by a night fighter and crashed at 2330 hours near Grosse-Lobke, 22kms south east of Hanover. All the crew members were killed.
The crew members of LM261 were:
Pilot Officer Orton Douglas Harrison (J/25841) (RCAF) (Mid Gunner)
Sergeant Albert Lawson Humble (1538484) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Alan Harvey McDonald (418456) (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Eric Sheldon Shrimpton (1322043) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Harold George Talbot (42192) (RNZAF) (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Norman Teasdale (1536280) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Raymond Victor Vandy (1334882) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
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, 166/26/256