Flying Officer Donald Kenneth Robertson

Royal Canadian Air Force

Edmonton, Alberta

Kerrobert, Saskatchewan

Died: Nov 2, 1942 Commemorated at Monachorum

Cemetery; Devon, England

Donald Kenneth Robertson was born May 20, 1919 at Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, the only son of Kenneth and Florence Wilhelmina “Wilma” (nee Coe) Robertson, and brother of Margaret Elizabeth Laura, Dorothy Wilhelmina, and Alex Roberta Robertson.

Raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Donald joined the 19th Alberta Dragoons under the Non-Permanent Active Militia in 1935 and completed his early education at Garneau High School in 1938. While studying commerce at the University of Alberta, Donald joined the Cadet Officer’s Training Corps in 1938 and trained at the Royal Canadian School of Cavalry as a Lieutenant in 1939 before enlisting at Edmonton November 4, 1940.

Commissioned August 8, 1941, Donald served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War as a Flying Officer attached to No. 175 (R.A.F.) Squad- ron (Stop at Nothing). Based at RAF Harrowbeer, Devon, England with 121 Wing and the Second Tactical Airforce, the No.

175 operated Hawker Hurricane, taking part in airborne operations during the D-Day Allied landings in Normandy in June 1942 and in attacks on enemy shipping.

On November 2, 1942, Donald Kenneth Robertson died after his Hawker Hurricane aircraft dove into the ground during a canopy exercise at Elverton and crashed near Tavistock, Devon, England. Donald was 23 years old. He is commemorated at the Buckland Monachorum Cemetery, Devon, England.

Citation(s): 1939-1945 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, General Service Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp