Donald Joseph McKenna (1911- 1940)

By:Ariana

Table of Contents

1. Personal Information2. Education and Work3. Family4. Military Service

Information5. Flying Experience6. Reason for Participating7. Journey in the War8. The Supermarine

Spitfire

9. Squadron 40310. Missions11. Circumstances of Death12. Map of McKenna’s

Journey13. Death Information14. Awards15. In Memory of Donald

McKenna

Personal Information

Day of Birth: July 15, 1911 Place of Birth: Passaic, New Jersey Address: Lived on 140 Carling Ave Appearance: 155 lbs., 5’11”, Good

Clothes, Blonde, Well Built, Tall and Muscular

Personality: Mechanics, Athletic, Above Average, Intelligent

Education and Work

Glebe Collegiate Institute (1925-1930) St.Patrick’s College (1930-1931)

Supertest Pet. Corp.(1932-1934) Allan and Cochrage Stock Brokers (1934) Shell Oil Co. (1934-1937) Canada Packers Ltd. (1937-1939)

Family

Daniel Peter McKenna (Father, Stock Broker)

Agnes Bridget McKenna (Mother) Helen Mary McKenna (Sister) Dorothy Agnes Bennet (Sister)

Glebe Collegiate, McKenna’s High School

Military Service Information

Flying Lieutenant Enlisted to the R.C.A.F. on September 7,

1939 (In Ottawa) Was sent to Trenton, Ontario soon after

enlistment Was back and forth between Ottawa,

Trenton and Camp Borden for 8 months of training

Flying Experience

Part of Ottawa Flying Club Flew a Taylor Cub Once Enlisted, sent to Trenton Then Camp Borden McKenna was able to fly a : Spitfire,

Taylor Cub, Moth, Fleet, Harvard and Battle

Taylor Cub, The Type of Plane D.McKenna first flew

Reason for Participating

Loved Flying Planes “Would never be satisfied until flew a

spitfire” More Satisfying job Better pay than being a shipping clerk

Canada Packers Ltd., McKenna’s last job before the war

Journey in the War

McKenna was in training between Sept. 1939-1940

Received Pilot Flying Badge on April 29, 1940 Went to Jarvis, Ontario for a month to learn about

bombing and Gunnery On Sept. 27, 1940 sent overseas for the first time Was part of Squadron 112, 110, 400 and 403 in

the air force until death

The Supermarine Spitfire

Crew: 1 Height: 25 ft. 11 in. Wing Span: 36 ft. 10 in. Weight: 5,090 pounds Max. Takeoff Weight: 6,770 pounds Max. Speed: 378 mph

This is a Supermarine Spitfire, it is the type of plane McKenna flew

Squadron 403

The R.C.A.F.’s first squadron formed overseas

Everyone flew Supermarine Spitfires Between 1941-1944, Squadron 403’s duty

was to defend Britain They won 7 battle honours in WW2

This is the Squadron 403’s emblem

Missions

Fly Supermarine Spitfire planes Would keep cover for bombing planes Would shoot at other planes Get in dogfights

Here is a picture of Spitfires having a dogfightThese are ME 109Fs, the planes that attacked McKenna on August 21, 1941

Circumstances of Death

On August 21st, 1941, the Squadron 403 was near Bethune, France covering 6 Blenheims, who were bombing a chemical works

Got involved with some ME 109F’s A ME 109F fired a quick burst at McKenna’s plane McKenna’s plane was seen smoking and out of

control He bailed out of the plane and parachute opened

very early, everything seemed to be alright; later died in Field hospital

Map of McKenna’s Journey Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Where McKenna was buried on Sept.10, 1941

Hornchurch, England, Where McKenna took off the day of the accident

Bethune, France, Where McKenna was covering 6 Blenheim

Dunkirk, France, Around where McKenna was taken down on August 21, 1941

Death Information

Died at the age of 30 Was buried in Belgium at the Adegem

Cemetery Died of serious burns and and a

compound fracture of the thigh Was buried on September 10,

1941 Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium, Where McKenna was buried

Awards

1939-45 Star, Given to D.McKenna for taking part in operations against the enemy

The Air Crew Star Given to D.McKenna for operational flying to the U.K. and U.K. bases around Europe

The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal was given to D. McKenna twice for honorably completing 18 months of service

The 1939-45 War Medal was given to D. McKenna for being a full time personnel and serving for at least 28 days

In Memory of Donald McKenna

In Memory of Flight Lieutenant DONALD JOSEPH McKENNA

C/1222, 403 Sqdn., Royal Canadian Air Forcewho died age 30on 08 September 1941Son of Daniel P. and Agnes B. McKenna, of Ottawa, Ontario.Remembered with honourADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY