Sergeant Donald Stuart Robertson

Donald Stuart Robertson was born in Montreal on 24 February 1923 and attended High School at the Huntingdon Academy (1937-1941) before attending Montreal Technical school. He worked as a telephone installer before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 4 August 1942. He trained as a pilot at No. 3 Initial Training School in Victoriaville, No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School at Cap-de-la-Madeleine, and No. 2 Service Flying Training School at Uplands. After completing Course 81 at Uplands, he received his Pilot's Flying Badge and was promoted to temporary sergeant on 3 September 1943. He proceeded overseas in October and was ultimately posted to No. 11 (P) Advanced Flying Unit at Shawbury, Shropshire, England. On 1 January 1944, aged 20, he was killed while piloting an Oxford aircraft on a cross-country training flight in England. He was buried on 6 January 1944 in Chester (Blacon) Cemetery in England, grave A.721.

1923-02-24 — Born
1942-07-20 — RCAF application signed; sought flying duties, with pilot preference
1942-07-30 — Aircrew selection assessment: athletic, alert, serious and anxious to serve as a pilot; considered very good aircrew material
1942-08-04 — Enlisted/attested in the Royal Canadian Air Force; rank AC2
1942-08-04 — Taken on strength, No. 5 Manning Depot
1942-09-25 — Struck off strength, No. 5 Manning Depot
1942-09-26 — Taken on strength, No. 4 Manning Depot
1942-11-14 to 1942-12-06 — Leave
1942-12-05 — Struck off strength, No. 4 Manning Depot
1942-12-06 — Taken on strength, No. 3 Initial Training School
1942-12-23 to 1942-12-29 — Leave
1943-02-19 — Reclassified Leading Aircraftman; pilot trade recorded
1943-02-20 to 1943-03-01 — Leave
1943-03-06 — Struck off strength, No. 3 Initial Training School
1943-03-07 — Taken on strength, No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School
1943-03-22 — Admitted to Station Hospital
1943-03-25 — Discharged from Station Hospital
1943-04-03 — Proceeded on temporary duty to No. 3 Initial Training School
1943-04-08 — Returned by rail from temporary duty to No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School
1943-05-15 — Struck off strength, No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School
1943-05-16 — Taken on strength, No. 2 Service Flying Training School
1943-09-03 — Completed Course 81; awarded Pilot's Flying Badge and promoted Temporary Sergeant
1943-09-04 to 1943-09-17 — Embarkation leave; entitled to ration allowance
1943-09-17 — Struck off strength, No. 2 Service Flying Training School
1943-09-18 — Taken on strength, No. 1 'Y' Depot
1943-10-08 — Struck off strength, No. 1 'Y' Depot; posted to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre and embarked from New York for the United Kingdom
1943-10-16 — Disembarked in the United Kingdom
1943-10-17 — Posted from No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre to R.A.F. Bournemouth
1943-11-30 — Posted from R.A.F. Bournemouth to No. 11 (P) Advanced Flying Unit
1944-01-01 — Killed while piloting an Oxford aircraft on a non-operational cross-country/navigation training flight; witness reported the aircraft flew low over a hill into a valley and struck the ground; technical failure was not suspected
1944-01-06 — Funeral and burial, grave A.721
1944-02-07 — Estates Branch requested family and estate particulars from his father
1948-05-19 — RCAF returned his service log book to Mrs. A. L. Robertson