Profile image
Military service
Service number:
R/67887
Age:
25
Rank:
Warrant Officer Class II
Force:
Air Force
Unit/Regiment:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Division:
263 Squadron, serving with RAF Squadron
Birth:
August 20, 1917
Death:
December 7, 1942
Burial/memorial information
Grave reference:
Panel 101
Additional information
Son of Albert Harold and Florence Louise McPhail, of Windsor, Ontario. Warrant Officer McPhail was killed when his Whirlwind aircraft dived into the sea off the south-west coast of Jersey Island during an enemy air attack. A memorial will be placed on a headland called Noirmont Point in Jersey Island on September 13, 2002. It will be in the form of a plaque which will be placed on the side of a former German Bunker over looking the exact spot where W/O McPhail and his Commanding Officer Sqn Ldr Robert Woodward were lost on December 7th, 1942. The project is being funded by kind donations from the local branch of the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA), the Channel Island Occupation Society (CIOS) and various local individuals. Mr. Ian Le Sueur represents the Jersey Aviation Historical Society (JAHS) and is the champion of this commemoration.
Digital gallery of Warrant Officer Class II Donald Burton McPhail
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Photo of Donald Burton McPhail
Warrant Officer Donald McPhail sitting in the cockpit of a 263 Squadron RAF Westland Whirlwind Fighter Aircraft. Donald was lost in such an aircraft 6 miles to the south of the Jersey Channel Islands on December 7, 1942. -
Photo of Donald McPhail
McPhail, Donald Burton - Warrant Officer. Born 20th August, 1917, at Windsor, Ont. Educated at Dougall Avenue School and Hon. W. C. Kennedy Collegiate Institute, Windsor. Entered the service of the Bank 18th November, 1936. Served at Windsor city branches. Enlisted 26th October, 1940, from Windsor branch in R.C.A.F. Sergeant Pilot in September, 1941; Flight Sergeant in June, 1942; Warrant Officer in August, 1942. Trained at Toronto, Windsor and Camp Borden, Ont. Overseas in September, 1941. Attached R.A.F. Served with 137 and 263 Squadrons. Engaged in convoy duties, later in bombing operations. Reported 7th December, 1942 missing and believed killed during air operations when his aircraft failed to return after a daylight bombing raid over Germany. Officially presumed dead 5th October, 1943. <br><i>From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.</i> -
Photo of Donald Burton McPhail
Seen March/April 1942 at RAF Matlaske with 137 Squadron -
Newspaper clipping
From the Windsor Daily Star. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Memorial
Inscription - Runnymede Memorial - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Newspaper clipping
From the Toronto Star July 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Burton McPhail
Digital gallery of
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Burton McPhail
Digital gallery of
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Burton McPhail
Digital gallery of
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Burton McPhail
Digital gallery of
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Burton McPhail
Digital gallery of
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Burton McPhail
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 98 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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