• RAAF Airman Aircrew ~ Simply The Best ....
  • Boeing Globemaster C17-A ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Alenia Spartan C-27J ~ 35 Squadron ....
  • Airbus A330 ~ 33 Squadron ....
  • Boeing 707-338C ~ 33 Squadron ....
  • Boeing E-7A Hawkeye ~ 2 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130J ~ 37 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130H ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130E ~ 37 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130A ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Pacific Aerospace CT4 ~ 1 Flying Training School ....
  • Bombardia Challenger CL604 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Beechcraft King Air 350 ~ 32 Squadron ....
  • BAC1-11 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Boeing 737 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Bell Iroquois UH-1H ~ 9 Squadron ....
  • De Havilland Caribou DHC-4 ~ 38 Squadron ....
  • Boeing Chinook CH-47 ~ 12 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Orion P3 ~ 11 Squadron ....
  • Sikorski Blackhawk UH-60 ~ 9 Squadron ....
  • Douglas DC3 ~ Aircraft Research and Development Unit ....
  • Pilatus PC9 ~ 2 Flying Training School ....
  • Aermacchi MB-326H ~ Roulettes ....

Vale - Hector Neil MACDONALD, O1635, Pilot ....

Hector Neil Macdonald was born in Cairns on 2nd October 1928.  He joined the Royal Australian Air Force in Brisbane on 24th February 1947 as a technical trainee and subsequently became a radar operator.

Following a nine-month tour in Malaya, Neil returned to Australia with a posting to No 1 Flying Training School at Point Cook where he graduated with his wings on No 9 Pilot's Course on 6th May 1953.

After graduation, Neil was promoted to Sergeant, then was assigned to No 86 Squadron, Transport Wing and posted to Iwakuni, Japan where he was delighted to be commissioned as a Pilot Officer.

On the 5th June 1954, as second pilot, a Dakota in which Neil was flying, crashed into the sea off Japan where both pilots were rescued by local fishermen.  Both pilots were commended for their actions in attempting to deal with a fire in the port engine which subsequently fell from the airframe into the ocean, followed soon after by the aircraft.  Upon recovery, and marriage, Neil became Recruiting Officer for New South Wales based at Rushcutters Bay, then re-joined 86 Squadron in Canberra.

On the 19th March 1957, on a routine night circuit and landing exercise in Canberra, the plane in which Neil was flying, a Dakota A65-112, suffered a catastrophic failure in the constant speed unit on the port engine causing a runaway airscrew. Faced with mountainous terrain, the Dakota rolled, stalled, then crashed, exploding on impact inside the Duntroon Military College. All four crew died, they were, First Pilot FLGOFF Hector Neil Macdonald, Co-Pilot FSGT Noel Charlton, Navigator SGT Ian Mackrill and Signaller SGT Maxwell Coombe.  Eye witnesses maintained that the plane appeared to be trying to avoid endangering inhabitants and buildings in the Duntroon College and consequently the crew paying the ultimate price.  A memorial dedicated to the airmen was erected by Duntroon staff in November 2009.

Information supplied by FLGOFF Macdonald’s brother, Jim Macdonald, email – jmacca@bigpond.net.au

16 June 2010.