MacLEAN, F/O Donald Edgar (J89372) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.90 Squadron - Award effective 15 March 1945 as per London Gazette dated 27 March 1945 and AFRO 1127/45 dated 6 July 1945. Born 25 September 1922, Summerside, Prince Edward Island (farmer, truck driver; in 1941 operated truck and heavy machinery during construction of Summerside airport); enlisted in Charlottetown, 5 November 1941 as Radio Mechanic and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To Queens University, 8 December 1941. To McGill University, 2 February 1942. To No.1 Manning Depot, 28 February 1942. Remustered to General Duties, 2 March 1942. Promoted LAC, 2 September 1942. To No.1 SFTS, 5 September 1942. Remustered to aircrew and posted to No.1 ITS, 23 January 1943; graduated 2 April 1943 and posted next day to No.7 EFTS; graduated 28 May 1943 and posted next day to No.6 SFTS; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 17 September 1943, To “Y” Depot, 1 October 1943. Taken on strength of No.3 PRC, 8 October 1943 (date of embarkation from New York). Disembarked in Britain, 16 October 1943. To No.18 (Pilots) AFU, 2 November 1943 (Oxford aircraft, 33 hours 45 minutes before BAT Flight and 33.40 after BAT Flight). Attached to No.1513 Beam Approach Training Flight, 3-13 January 1944 (Oxfords, 16.05). To No.12 OTU, 22 February 1944 (Wellingtons, 77 hours). To No.31 Base, 10 May 1944. Detached to Methwald, 19-26 May 1944. Attached No.1653 Conversion Unit, 26 May 1944 (Stirlings, 43 hours); attached to No.3 Lancaster Finishing School, 13-23 July 1944 (Lancaster, twelve hours); to No.90 Squadron, 23 July 1944 (Lancaster, 181 hours 15 minutes). Commissioned 10 September 1944. Repatriated 7 February 1945. Promoted Flying Officer, 10 March 1945. Retirement date uncertain. Award presented in New Brunswick, 21 December 1949. Attended University of New Brunswick, 1946-1949 (Civil Engineering); in summers worked for Department of Public Works (Prince Edward Island) and city of Fredericton. Rejoined RCAF, Construction Engineering Branch, 9 May 1952 (48642). To No.1 Officer School, London, 1 June 1952. To AFHQ, Ottawa, 9 August 1952 (Architectural Branch, Construction and Engineering). Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 January 1956. Retired 1 September 1956. Died in Charlottetown, February 1986 as it was reported (with no specific date) in Legion Magazine of May 1986. No citation other than "completed ...many successful operations against the enemy in which [he has] displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty." Public Records Office Air 2/9050 has recommendation dated 20 December 1944 when he had flown 34 sorties (166 hours 16 minutes); sortie list identical to that of P/O R.G. Clarke and WO J.J. Williams. * denotes daylight sortie 7 August 1944 - Mare de Magne (3.55) 9 August 1944 - Fort d'Englos (2.38) 11 August 1944 - Lens (3.24)* 14 August 1944 - Hamel (3.58)* 16 August 1944 - Stettin (8.00) 18 August 1944 - Bremen (5.08) 25 August 1944 - Russelheim (8.29) 5 Sept 1944 - Le Havre (3.55)* 6 Sept 1944 - Le Havre (3.35)* 10 September 1944 - Le Havre (4.16) 11 September 1944 - GARDENING, Pomeranian Bay (7.09) 12 September 1944 - Frankfurt (6.32) 23 September 1944 - Neuse (4.22) 24 September 1944 - Calais (2.30)* 27 September 1944 - Calais (2.29)* 4 October 1944 - GARDENING, Kattegat (7.39) 5 October 1944 - Saarbrucken (5.23) 7 October 1944 - Klieve (4.00)* 14 October 1944 - Duisburg (4.57) 14 October 1944 - Duisburg (4.51)* 19 October 1944 - Stuttgart (5.54) 22 October 1944 - Neuse (4.16)* 2 November 1944 - Homberg (4.16)* 4 November 1944 - Solingen (4.36)* 5 November 1944 - Solingen (4.52)* 6 November 1944 - Koblenz (5.37) 8 November 1944 - Homberg (4.21)* 15 November 1944 - Dortmund (5.22)* 16 November 1944 - Heinsberg (3.49)* 20 November 1944 - Homberg (4.42)* 21 November 1944 - GARDENING, Oslo (7.08) 26 November 1944 - Fulda (5.33)* 28 November 1944 - Neuse (4.40) 5 December 1944 - Schwammanauel Dam (4.10)* At all times this officer has displayed a cheerful disregard of his own personal safety in the fulfilment of his task of pressing home every attack to a successful conclusion. Never has he failed to make the utmost endeavour to attack his target, even in the face of intense opposition, and his outstanding pilotage and general airmanship have on several occasions been instrumental in bringing his aircraft and crew in safety to base. As the leader of his crew he has, by his own personal example, quiet humour and cool courage, succeeding in moulding his crew into an efficient operational unit, losing no opportunity to improve their knowledge and performance. This young officer's contribution to the war effort has been one of considerable magnitude, involving a high degree of unselfish and unswerving devotion to duty. I recommend the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Notes: On repatriation form dated 23 January 1945 he stated he had flown 34 sorties (166 hours 30 minutes), the last on 5 December 1944; also 215 hours 30 minutes training and 14 hours 45 minutes “Miscellaneous Flying Time.” Report on course at No.1 Officer School, 14 July to 8 August 1952 - “Flying Officer McLean has had sufficient experience in civilian life as a supervisor to realize the realities of life and thus has been able to accommodate his reasoning to Service lines. A certain bluntness may leave one with the erroneous impression that he is not interested. He has proved himself to have the courage of his convictions and will stick stubbornly to a task until it is completed, Flying Officer Maclean should prove to be a capable officer.” Assessed 16 December 1955 - “Has accepted considerable responsibility as senior in the runway construction and maintenance section and has represented the directorate on Airdrome Development Project Committee creditably.” (W/C J.D. Shannon). Training: Course at No.1 ITS was 25 January to 2 April 1943. Courses in Mathematics, Law and Discipline, Navigation, General Studies, Anti-Gas, Armament (written), Aircraft Recognition, Drill, Signals (written) and Meteorology. Scored 715 out of a possible 1,000 points, Placed 59th in a class of 64. “A reliable airman but handicapped by inadequate education. Service spirit and deportment good. Second Aircrew Recommendation - Air Bomber.” Course at No.7 EFTS was 5 April to 28 May 1943. Tiger Moth aircraft - 29 hours 50 minutes day dual (ten hours dual to first solo), 29.45 day solo, one hour night dual. Was 8.05 on instruments; logged ten hours in Link. “This student has a tendency to rely too much on his instructor’s judgement in the air, lacks self confidence. Discipline good - Link 65 percent.” (S/L G.A. Tambling, Chief Flying Instructor). Ground courses in Navigation, Airmanship, Armament (written(, Aircraft Recognition and Signals (practical). Scored 468 out of possible 700 points, placed 17th in a class of 20. Course at No.6 SFTS was 31 May to 17 September 1943. Harvard aircraft - 7.45 day dual to first day solo, total 79.00 day dual and 57.55 day solo. Was 14.10 in formation and 35.30 on instruments. Flew 1.15 night dual to first night solo, total nine hours night dual, eleven hours night solo. Logged 25 hours in Link. “Flying good average - forgetful at times.” Air work assessed under following heads - General Flying (205/300), Instrument Flying (134/200), Navigation (95/150), Armament (93/150), Night Flying (70/100), Formation (35/50) and Link (38/50), Ground courses in Airmanship (134/200), Armament (137/200), Navigation (112/200), Signals (121/200), Aircraft Recognition (64/100) and Meteorology (78/100). Course at No.18 (Pilots) AFU was 23 November 1943 to 24 Febriary 1944. Oxford aircraft - four hours day dual to first day solo, total 19.45 day dual and 27.50 day solo (50 minutes in formation); 2.45 night dual to first night solo, total 4.50 night dual, 7.45 night solo. Also logged 15.10 in Link, Flying assessed as follows - General Flying (240/400), Applied Flying (130/200), Instrument Flying (160/250), Night Flying (60/100), and Link (30/50). “Has worked hard to finish a good average pilot who should become a useful captain of crew.” At No.1513 Beam Approach Training Flight, 4-17 January 1944. Oxford aircraft - 16 hours five minutes (all instrument and beam flying) plus eight hours in Link. Graded in Beam Approach Procedure and “Q” Codes, Link (110/200), Receiver Operation (65/100), Instrument Flying (170/250), Cloud and Night Flying (170/250) and General Application of Beam Approach Procedure (115/200), “Instrument Flying average. Quite steady and has no outstanding faults, A little slow in grasping procedure but made satisfactory progress, Should prove capable of using system in an emergency.” Course at No.12 OTU was 22 Febriary to 19 May 1944 (note apparent overlap with AFU). Wellington aircraft - 5.15 day dual to first day solo, total 12.15 day dual and 23.25 day solo; 3.00 night dual to first night solo, total 6.05 night dual, 35.15 night solo. Was 7.15 on instruments. Also logged 12.35 in Link, Flying assessed as follows - General Flying (240/400), Applied Flying (110/200), Instrument Flying (125/250), Night Flying (50/100), and Link (27/50). Ground courses in Airmanship (238/300), Armament (231/300), Navigation (130/200), Signals (74/100) and Meteorology (80/100). “Good average pilot and captain with good crew. All keen and work well together under the captain. Captain rather a quiet type and perhaps not quite sufficiently self assertive but should improve steadily in this respect.” Course at No.1653 Conversion Unit was 26 May to 13 July 1944. Flew 24 hours 45 minutes by day and 19 hours 20 minutes by night. These included Day Cross Country with Air Firing and Bombing (4.35), Day Cross Country with Loaded Climb (5.30), Night Cross Country and Bullseye (3.15, early return), Day Fighter Affiliation (3.3), Night Fighter Affiliation (5.40). “Very keen and smart captain with good control of his crew, Navigator slightly above average. Engineer good and whole crew formed a sound team.” Course at No.3 Lancaster Finishing School was 13 July to 23 July 1944. Full crew identified - R112294 Sergeant D.E. MacLean, R190620 Sergeant J.J. Williams (navigator, later DFC), R165365 Sergeant R.G, Clarke (bomb aimer, later DFC), 1825516 Sergeant J. Wright (flight engineer), 2206841 Sergeant F. Friak (WOP), 1644287 Sergeant F. Barnes (air gunner) and 1196333 Sergeant D.A, Love (mid-upper gunner). They flew 2.55 day dual, 2.45 day solo, 2.00 night dual, one hour night; also 3.20 “special exercise” - did a loaded climb and a fighter affiliation exercise, MacLeod did an instrument flying check. Flight Commander Assessed him as follows - “Average pilot, had difficulty at first with approach and landing. Fighter affiliation very good.” Engineer Leader assessed him as follows - “GROUND - Knowledge of checks, drills and engine handling only fair. Layout, systems, and general knowledge average. AIR - Cooperation between himself and Engineer average. Checks and drills should be improved greatly.”