21531 CPL Donald Bruce MACKAY – WW2 (RAAF)

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DONALD was born at Dungog in 1909 to parents John and Ada Mackay.

At age 31, he enlisted in the RAAF Reserve in July 1940 for war time service.

At the time Donald was a single man working as a milk vendor at Carlton Hill and living at the Royal Hotel.

On enlistment he requested a mustering (trade) as a mess steward due to his earlier civil employment.

This was granted and he undertook training at Bradfield Park (Sydney) with 2nd Initial Training School qualifying as a Messman, then remained working as a messman at Bradfield Park.

He was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman (LAC) on 2 June 1941 at Bradfield Park.

In July 1942, he was posted to 55 Operations Base Unit at Birdum NT (500km SE of Darwin) where he was allocated to 31 Radio Station (also known as 31 Radar Station) at Dripstone Caves (Darwin) NT.

This unit undertook early warning of Japanese aircraft attacks against Darwin.

He was again moved in November to 5th Fighter Sector at Berrimah NT which co-ordinated the early warning and dispatch of aircraft against attacking Japanese air raids, and remained there until September 1943.

In October he was posted back to Bradfield Park where he worked in various base units and changed his mustering to cook’s assistant in January 1944.

He also found time to marry a local Dungog girl, Lorna Louisa Ivy Porter, in August at Dungog.

In April he was promoted to Temporary CPL.

In October he was back in the NT serving with 43 Squadron at Darwin.

The 43 Squadron were flying Catalina aircraft over SE Asia laying mines, bombing and conducting reconnaissance.

He remained with 43 Squadron until the end of the war and in October 1945 he returned to No. 2 Personnel Depot, Bradfield Park, in preparation for discharge.

On 20 November he was made substantive CPL and discharged on 21 November.

He returned home to Dungog and his wife, taking up his old job as a milk vendor.

By 1954 he had changed jobs to be a bread carter, which he remained until his death.

He died on 23 December 1972 at Dungog Hospital and was survived by his wife.

He was buried in the Dungog General Cemetery (Roman Catholic Section) as a returned soldier from WW2.

His headstone is a cement plinth with a bronze plaque erected by the Office of Australian War Graves.

Donald was entitled to the following medals: War Medal 1939-45, Australia Service Medal 1939-1945, Returned from Active Service Badge.

I have not found a memorial recognising his service in WW2.

By Martin HOLMES CSM