LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Gordon Andrew McDOUGALL
Service No: 425726
Born: Brisbane QLD, 13 March 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 26 April 1942
Unit: No. 59 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 59 Operational Training Unit Hurricane aircraft T9532), Scotland, 6 September 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Haddington (St Martins) New Burial Ground, East Lothian
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Andrew and Frances Eveline McDougall, of Wavell Heights, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 126, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 6 September 1943, Hurricane T9532 was detailed to carry out a formation training exercise with Hurricane W9145. The aircraft collided and the tail units of both aircraft broke off and both aircraft caught fire. The aircraft crashed near Dunbar and Pilot Officer McDougall was killed.
The Pilots were:
Sergeant McConvey (RAF) (Pilot) (Hurricane W9145) Baled out, injured
Pilot Officer Gordon Andrew McDougall (425726) (Pilot) (Hurricane T9532)
Flying Officer Cattermoul was leading a section of 3 aircraft with McConvoy and McDougall both students at Nos. 2 and 3 respectively. After take off, the Leader led the formation to the Dunbar area where the air was smoother. After putting the Section into echelon starboard, the Leader told them to stand by for a “Peel Off” to port, then carried out this manoeuvre. No. 2 waited until the Leader was diving, then began to “Peel Off” after him, but No. 3 (McDougall) banked more steeply than No. 2 without waiting for him to dive away. The aircraft collided and exploded at a height of 6,000 feet, and Pilot Officer McDougall was killed in the crash. McConvey baled out or was flung clear and he pulled his ripcord at 3,000 feet, landed in the sea and was picked up by a fishing boat. The accident was considered an error of judgement by Pilot Officer McDougall.
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, 166/26/239