Born 19th May 1918 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Son of Harold and Constance MacDonald.
Educated in British Columbia - Magee Public School (1925 - 1931). Point Grey Junior High (1932 - 1934). Magee High School (1934 - 1937) and a Commercial College (1937 - 1939, stenography)
Employed by W. L. Keats, Vancouver, as stenographer 1938 - 1939, Boeing Aircraft 1939 - 1940 as time keeper, and Great Northern Railway 1940 as a clerk.
Served with 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Militia, rank of Private) from 22nd Novemeber 1940 to enlistment in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Interviewed for RCAF, 5th July 1941. Married Jessie Bosworth Proctor 26th July 1941 in Vancouver.
Enlisted in Vancouver 7th August 1941 and sent to No 1 Manning Depot, Toronto, on 30th August 1941.
To Station Trenton on 26th September 1941 then No 6 Initial Training School on 11th November 1941. Promoted to Leading Aircraftsman on 2nd Janauary 1942.
To No 10 Elementary Flying Training School, Hamilton, Ontario, 4th January 1942 - First solo on 17th January 1942 of fifteen minutes in Tiger Moth 5893. To No 6 Service Flying Training School, Dunnville, Ontario, 29th March 1942 from where he qualified as a pilot and promoted Sergeant on 17th July 1942.
To "Y" Depot, Halifax, for embarkation 1st August 1942. Embarked overseas 6th August 1942. Disembarked in United Kingdom 18th August 1942. Taken on strength of No 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, 19th August 1942. To No 5 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit 29th August 1942. To No 55 Operational Training Unit 22nd September 1942 on course number 40. Course completed on the 15th December 1942. Its Officer Commanding, Wing Commander W. D. David, writes of James MacDonald "An above average pilot who has done consistently well at this unit".
Posted to No 198 Squadron RAF on 15th December 1942 and commenced flying with the Squadron on 28th December 1942 with a familiarisation flight on Hawker Hurricane 3265. Another Hurricane flight on 2nd January 1943 was immediately followed by his first flight in a Hawker Typhoon that day. His first operational sortie was flown on the 17th February 1943 and lasted 45 minutes.
Flying Officer
James Arthur MacDonald RCAF
of
198 Squadron RAF
James MacDonald shortly after enlisting in the RCAF
Learning to be a pilot during 1942
James with his wife Jessie who he had married in July 1941
Association of 198 Squadron RAF Pilots & Ground Crews
