| Flight Sergeant Jack
McDonell was
serving as Navigator on board Lancaster Mk.III
PB 636 coded
P4-D during an operation to
Duisberg on January 22/23, 1945. The aircraft left Scampton at 1645hrs but failed
to return. The entire crew was lost.
The crew consisted of:
|
Name |
Service |
Trade |
Hometown |
Age |
|
F/L Alan Jones |
RAF |
Pilot |
Stoke Newington,London |
26 |
|
Sgt Sydney James |
RAFVR |
Flight Engineer |
Wimbledon, Surrey |
39 |
|
F/Sgt Jack McDonell |
RAAF |
Navigator |
Ormond,Victoria,Australia |
20 |
|
F/Sgt Charles Cullen |
RAFVR |
Bomb Aimer |
Lincoln |
24 |
|
W/O John Bateup |
RAAF |
W/Op/AG |
Gunning,NSW |
22 |
|
Sgt Reuben Trafford |
RAFVR |
M/U Gunner |
Scunthorpe,Lincs |
20 |
|
Sgt Albert Simpson |
RAFVR |
Rear Gunner |
Preston,Lancs. |
24 |
Flight Sergeant Jack James Lewis McDonell RAAF was born on the
19th July 1924 at Boronia,Victoria,Australia to Mr
and Mrs Alexander McDonell.He was the third child, having two
older siblings, Bill and Betty and two younger, Lola and
Barry. He was nicknamed “Coogan” by his family and friends
after the actor, Jackie Coogan.Educated at Melbourne High
School, he was an excellent scholar , playing cricket and
was a member of the school rowing team. He worked as an audit
clerk before enlisting in the RAAF on the tenth of October
1942 aged 18.
Some of his training was done in Canada and he was awarded his
Navigator’s badge on the 14th of October 1943.After
serving in 166 Squadron, he joined 153 squadron on the 7th
of October 1944.
All of the crew are remembered on the Runnymede memorial,
Warrant Officer Bateup is also remembered on the Roll of
Honour for Gunning, N.S.W. |
