Finding closure for families
Search on for descendants of another lost Cape Breton airman
As the search for descendants of a Cape Breton airman who died in a Second World War plane crash in Germany shifts to Hamilton, Ont., a new search for the family of a second airman who also lost his life during the war has begun.
Local descendants of Reginald Bertram Smith, a Sydney native, appear to have died off, but representatives of a German historical group are very hopeful living relatives of Leading Aircraftman Donald John MacDonald from Glace Bay can be found.
MacDonald’s plane, a Dakota KG 653 troop transport, was shot down over Germany on Sept. 24, 1944. It was a separate crash from the one that claimed Smith’s life.
The Glace Bay native was among 23 crew on the plane that was flying from England to India and ended up in hostile territory over Neuleiningen, Germany.
“It should have flown down south over the free French countryside to Sardinia, then to India to help build up two new squadrons in the fight against Japan,” Eric Wieman, who works with the archaeological services of Spreye, Germany, told the Cape Breton Post.
“It lost its way and due to bad weather and navigational problems flew into Germany in broad daylight alone and was shot down.”
Wieman works with the IG Heimatforschung RheinlandPfalz/Historical Research Community in Germany that found the crash site last November.
They’re working to establish a permanent monument there.
When he heard of the crash and its approximate area Wieman researched details of the incident in a book written by the fighter pilot who claimed to have shot the aircraft down.
He also put out a call for eyewitnesses to the crash in a German newspaper near the site.
“One witness showed me a piece of the aircraft he had picked up in 1944 at the site as a little boy. The site was described by all very similarly.”
He was also shown where the piece of a wing that broke off before the plane crashed came down near a house.
His group has applied for a permit to further search the site with metal detecting equipment to find out what is left of the crash that might be in the ground.
“We plan to pinpoint the exact site for a memorial,” he said.
“When the time is right, when the excavation comes to an end, we will plant a memorial. Of course, all the descendants will be invited. We might even find personal belongings of the crew which we hope we can return to the descendants.”
Twelve families of the plane’s 23-man crew have already been found. They know quite a bit about MacDonald, as well, but would like to hear from his direct descendants to share more details on their monument plans.
MacDonald was born on May 16, 1909 in Glace Bay and was the son of Archibald Malcolm and Alexis (nee MacLean) MacDonald of Glace Bay. Siblings were Neil, Roderick, Archibald, Lena Rachel, and Julia MacDonald.
He enlisted on Sept. 5, 1942 in Halifax and his service number was R/176956 Royal Canadian Air Force.
“I think chances are good we can find them.”
Email erik.wieman@gmail.com or kontakt@ig-heimatforschung.de if you are a descendant or a friend of a descendant.