Donald McKay (RAF officer)

Donald McKay, DFM & Bar (1917 – 1 October 1959) was a flying ace who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. During his service with the RAF, he was credited with having destroyed at least fourteen German aircraft although this total may be understated.

From Pontefract, McKay joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) in 1937. He was training with the RAF at the time of the outbreak of the Second World War and was posted to No. 501 Squadron a few days afterward. The following May the squadron was sent to France upon the invasion of that country. Flying Hawker Hurricane fighters, McKay shot down several aircraft during the campaign in France and in the following Battle of Britain. He himself was shot down on The Hardest Day, suffering burns as he baled out of his Hurricane. Hospitalised as a result, he did not return to operations until mid-September. Shortly afterwards he was transferred to No. 421 Flight, achieving more victories over the next several months until he was rested in June 1941.

After a period of instructing duties, in January 1942 he was posted to No. 234 Squadron. Later in the year he was sent to the North Africa, serving with several different squadrons and ending the war on instructing duties in Rhodesia. He resumed service with the RAFVR in the postwar period, performing instructing duties at Desford. His wife died in September 1959; grief-stricken, McKay killed himself.