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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Irving MacDonald

In memory of:

Flight Sergeant Irving MacDonald

April 17, 1943

Military Service


Service Number:

R/88100

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

408 Sqdn.

Additional Information


Commemorated on Page 184 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

LIESSE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Aisne, France

Grave Reference:

Mil. Plot. Row B. Coll. grave 1-4.

Location:

Liesse is a large village 15 kilometres north-east of Laon, on the Laon-Montcornet road. The LIESSE COMMUNAL CEMETERY is on the sourthern side of Liesse on the road to Marchais and St.Erme.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flight Sergeant Irving MacDonald is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flight Sergeant Irving MacDonald is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Photo of Irving MacDonald– F/S (AG) Irving MacDonald, R88100, 408 Squadron, RCAF of Thorburn, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Died 16/17 April 1943 aboard Halifax II BB-343 (EQ-X) returning from bombing raid on the Skoda armaments factory, Pilsen, Czechoslovakia - shot down by a  pilot of Nachtjagdgeshwader 4.
  • Group Photo– Pictured are some of those who graduated from Gunnery School Course 36B from #8 B&G School, Lethbridge Alberta. Irving MacDonald is sixth from the right. This was probably taken in the autumn of 1942.
  • Group Photo– A photograph taken perhaps in Vancouver about 1942 showing Irving MacDonald, middle, with unnamed companions.
  • Original Gravemarker– This photo is the one sent by the Canadian Government showing the first grave marker in the Liesse Communal Cemetery where the bodies of most of the crew were interred.
  • Photo collage– This collection of photos shows the military section of the Liesse Communal Cemetery. Upper right photo shows the seven stones for the crew of BB-343 and that of Irving MacDonald is the centre stone.  Photographers included Michel Leprêtre,  Thierry LeBlanc and Chuck Jonasson.
  • Gravemarker– The stone for F/S (AG) Irving MacDonald, Liesse Communal Cemetery, Aisne, France.
  • Crash Site– This newspaper photo shows the crash site of BB-343 on the morning of 17 April 1943 . It had been made available to the Internet by Peter W. Cunliffe of Lancashire, England, who has spent many years researching the Pilsen raid, which also claimed the life of his uncle.
  • Memorial– This series of photos shows a monument located at Lesquielles St. Germain which was raised by the residents of the area. They believed that the air crew of BB-343 acted heroically in circling their valley looking for a crash site away from settlements. The photographer was Michel Leprêtre of  Ainse, France.

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