Art Donahue
Encyclopedia
Arthur Gerald "Art" Donahue (29 January 1913 — 11 September 1942) was a United States fighter pilot and ace
who volunteered to fly for the British Royal Air Force
in World War II
. He was killed in action.
. As a teenager, he learned to fly at Conrad Flying Service, operated by Max Conrad
, an aviator known as the "Flying Grandfather" who set numerous world records for distance and endurance flying. After learning how to fly and becoming Minnesota's youngest commercially certificated pilot at the age of 19, Donahue worked for Conrad helping to run the flight school until he left to join the Royal Air Force
(service number 81624). Donahue had heard that pilots were being recruited in Canada, so he traveled there, claimed to be Canadian, and was accepted.
at RAF Kenley
on August 3, 1940. Two days later, he saw combat against Messerschmitt Bf 109
s off the French coast, and suffered serious damage to his aircraft, forcing him to land at RAF Hawkinge
. Donahue thus became one of seven Americans to fly for the RAF in 1940's Battle of Britain
, and was the first of the seven to see actual combat. A week later, on August 12, he was wounded in combat over England's South coast in his Supermarine Spitfire
Mk. I. He was forced to bail out of his burning aircraft, and suffered burns and leg injuries.
On September 29, 1940, he was reassigned to No. 71 Squadron
, one of three Eagle Squadrons, RAF units composed of US pilots, but did not see combat with that unit. Because of the lack of action, he requested to be reassigned to No. 64 Squadron, arriving back there on October 23.
In February 1941, Donahue served with No. 91 Squadron
, although in March he went on leave back to the USA. In October 1941 he was posted to No. 258 Squadron
in the Far East, and participated in the Battle of Singapore
, also seeing action over Sumatra
in February 1942, where he was wounded by ground fire. After returning to England in mid 1942, he rejoined No 91 Squadron as a flight commander. He became the first American in RAF history to lead an all-English squadron. During his various combat engagements, he became an ace by shooting down five enemy aircraft. For his efforts, he was awarded four medals, including the UK's Distinguished Flying Cross
on March 27, 1942.
Flight Lieutenant Donahue was killed in action on 11 September 1942, while a member of No. 91 Squadron, when intercepting a Ju 88
and being hit by return fire, and ditching in the English Channel
. Donahue once wrote in a letter to his parents, "My life may not be long, but it will be wide." He is commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial cemetery in the UK.
Donahue wrote two books, Tally-Ho! Yankee in a Spitfire and Last Flight from Singapore about his service in the RAF.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
who volunteered to fly for the British Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was killed in action.
Early life
Donahue was born to Frank and Ada Donahue on 29 January 1913 and was raised on a dairy farm near St. Charles, MinnesotaSt. Charles, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,295 people, 1,238 households, and 870 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,005.3 people per square mile . There were 1,276 housing units at an average density of 389.3 per square mile...
. As a teenager, he learned to fly at Conrad Flying Service, operated by Max Conrad
Max Conrad
Maximilien "Max" Conrad, known as the "Flying Grandfather", was a record-setting aviator. In the 1950s and 1960s, he set nine official light plane world records, three of which still stand at the end of 2008. For his efforts, he was awarded the Louis Blériot medal in 1952 and the prestigious...
, an aviator known as the "Flying Grandfather" who set numerous world records for distance and endurance flying. After learning how to fly and becoming Minnesota's youngest commercially certificated pilot at the age of 19, Donahue worked for Conrad helping to run the flight school until he left to join the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(service number 81624). Donahue had heard that pilots were being recruited in Canada, so he traveled there, claimed to be Canadian, and was accepted.
Royal Air Force service
After training with No. 7 Operational Training Unit, he was assigned to No. 64 SquadronNo. 64 Squadron RAF
No. 64 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was first formed on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It was last disbanded on 31 January 1991 at RAF Leuchars.- 1916 to 1919 :...
at RAF Kenley
RAF Kenley
The former Royal Air Force Station Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley was a station of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and the RAF in World War II. It is located near Kenley, London, England.-History:...
on August 3, 1940. Two days later, he saw combat against Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
s off the French coast, and suffered serious damage to his aircraft, forcing him to land at RAF Hawkinge
RAF Hawkinge
RAF Hawkinge was an airfield in Kent, near to the south coast and the closest airfield to the French coast.It took part in the Battle of Britain and it was home to No. 79 Squadron RAF. After the war, the station hosted the Home Command Gliding Centre, and is fondly remembered by many Air Cadets as...
. Donahue thus became one of seven Americans to fly for the RAF in 1940's Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, and was the first of the seven to see actual combat. A week later, on August 12, he was wounded in combat over England's South coast in his Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
Mk. I. He was forced to bail out of his burning aircraft, and suffered burns and leg injuries.
On September 29, 1940, he was reassigned to No. 71 Squadron
No. 71 Squadron RAF
No. 71 Squadron is a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron, the number has been used three times, once by the Royal Flying Corps for an Australian Flying Corps squadron, in the second world war as an Eagle Squadron and post-war as a fighter-bomber unit based in Royal Air Force Germany.-First World...
, one of three Eagle Squadrons, RAF units composed of US pilots, but did not see combat with that unit. Because of the lack of action, he requested to be reassigned to No. 64 Squadron, arriving back there on October 23.
In February 1941, Donahue served with No. 91 Squadron
No. 91 Squadron RAF
No 91 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force but is no longer operational. The name acknowledges the contribution made by Nigeria to the cost of the squadron's aeroplanes.-World War I:...
, although in March he went on leave back to the USA. In October 1941 he was posted to No. 258 Squadron
No. 258 Squadron RAF
RAF 258 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron during World War I and World War II.No. 258 Squadron was first formed 25 July 1918 from 523, 525 and 529 Special Duties Flights at Luce Bay near Stranraer, Scotland under the control of No. 25 Group. It was equipped with De Havilland DH.6 biplanes and...
in the Far East, and participated in the Battle of Singapore
Battle of Singapore
The Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of the Second World War when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold of Singapore. Singapore was the major British military base in Southeast Asia and nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East"...
, also seeing action over Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
in February 1942, where he was wounded by ground fire. After returning to England in mid 1942, he rejoined No 91 Squadron as a flight commander. He became the first American in RAF history to lead an all-English squadron. During his various combat engagements, he became an ace by shooting down five enemy aircraft. For his efforts, he was awarded four medals, including the UK's Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
on March 27, 1942.
Flight Lieutenant Donahue was killed in action on 11 September 1942, while a member of No. 91 Squadron, when intercepting a Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
and being hit by return fire, and ditching in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. Donahue once wrote in a letter to his parents, "My life may not be long, but it will be wide." He is commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial cemetery in the UK.
Donahue wrote two books, Tally-Ho! Yankee in a Spitfire and Last Flight from Singapore about his service in the RAF.
See also
- List of World War II air aces
- List of Battle of Britain pilots
- Non-British personnel in the RAF during the Battle of Britain