Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation


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Air Marshal Sir Grahame Donald


D G Donald - 1916Sir (David) Grahame Donald(David) Grahame        b: 27 Jul 1891           r: 24 May 1947                               d: 23 Dec 1976

KCB - 1 Jan 1944 (CB - 1 Jul 1941), DFC - 22 Dec 1919, AFC - 10 Oct 1919, MiD - 3 Jun 1919, MiD - 8 Sep 1933, MC II (G) - 8 Feb 1919, MA (University College, Oxford)

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

3rd Prize, 'Gordon Shephard' Competition - 1922

(RNVR): - (P) Surg: 3 Aug 1914,

(RNAS): - (P) Flt Sub Lt: 7 Feb 1916, Flt Lt: 30 Jun 1917, Flt Cdr: 31 Dec 1917.

(RAF): - (T) Capt [Lt]: 1 Apr 1918, Capt: 21 Jan 1919, Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Act Maj: 1 May 1919, Act Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1919, Sqn Ldr: 1 Jan 1921, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1929, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1935, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1938, Act AVM: 4 Jan 1940, (T) AVM: 1 Jul 1940, AVM: 14 Apr 1942 [1 Jul 1940] Act AM: 12 Oct 1942, (T) AM: 16 Aug 1944, AM: 1 Jan 1946.

 

Photographs:

Left - taken from his RAeC Certificate

Right - Sir (David) Grahame Donald

by Walter Stoneman
negative, April 1942
NPG x164154

© National Portrait Gallery, London

 3 Aug 1914:              Probationary Surgeon, RNVR

 7 Feb 1916:               U/T Pilot, RNAS Eastbourne

xx xxx 1917:               Instructor, Cranwell Central Depot and Training Establishment

xx xxx 1917:               Pilot, HMS Ark Royal?

xx xxx xxxx:                Pilot, HMS Repulse

xx xxx xxxx:                Pilot, HMS Furious

xx xxx xxxx:                Pilot, HMS Vindictive

1918                          Pilot, 'C' Sqn, No 2 Wing RNAS.

xx xxx 1918:               Pilot, RAF Detachment, Baltic/North Russia, HMS Vindictive.

 1 Aug 1919:               Awarded Permanent Commission as a Captain

 9 Jan 1920:                Staff Officer, HQ No 29 (Fleet) Group.

16 Mar 1920:              In process of forming No 205 Sqn.

15 Apr 1920:              Officer Commanding, No 205 Sqn. (Panthers - Leuchars)

 3 Jul 1920:                 Staff, RAF Base Leuchars

 1 Oct 1921:               Officer Commanding, No 3 Sqn. (DH9A, Walrus – Leuchars)

 1 Jun 1922:               Officer Commanding, No 3 Sqn.

22 Jan 1923:               Staff Officer, Directorate of Training and Staff Duties

 1 May 1923:              Attended RAF Staff College

 1 May 1924:              Directing Staff, RAF Staff College.

12 Sep 1927:              U/T, School of Air Navigation?, RAF Base Calshot.

 1 Mar 1928:              Staff, RAF Training Base, Leuchars.

30 Nov 1928:             Supernumerary, No 480 (Flying Boat) Flight.

6 Dec 1928:               Officer Commanding, No 480 (Flying Boat) Flight. (renamed 201 Sqn)

 1 Jan 1929:                Officer Commanding, No 201 Sqn. (Southampton II – Calshot)

23 Nov 1929:             Supernumerary, School of Naval Co-operation.

30 Nov 1929:             Officer Commanding, School of Naval Co-operation.

 5 Jan 1931:                Supernumerary, RAF Depot.

19 Jan 1931:               Attended Imperial Defence College.

 1 Jan 1932:                Officer Commanding, No 1 (Indian Wing) Station, Kohat.

11 Jan 1933:                Air Staff, HQ RAF India.  

13 Nov 1935:              Directing Staff, RAF Staff College

 3 Aug 1937:               Instructor, Imperial Defence College.

 1 Feb 1939:               Director of Organisation.

 4 Jan 1940:                Director-General of Organisation.

xx Jul 1941:                Deputy Air Member for Supply and Organisation.

 5 Oct 1942:               AOC in C, Maintenance Command.

The son on Dr David Donald, he was educated at Dulwich College (25 July 1903 to July 1910) and University College, Oxford, entered the Royal Navy as a surgeon probationer.  He served aboard a hospital ship, torpedo boat and a destroyer before transferring to the RNAS in 1915, being awarded RAeC Certificate No 2688 on 31 March 1916.  His first marriage was to Gwyneth Martin in around 1916 and after her death he married Ailsa Stevenson in October 1947

He reformed No 3 Squadron from No 205 (Mobile) Flight.

This page was last updated on 16/10/22

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