From Dogfight to Diplomacy: A Spitfire Pilot's Log, 1932-1958

by Donald MacDonell, Lois MacDonell (Editor), Anne MacKay (Editor)

Overview

MacDonell's service career began in the 1920s. Shortly before the war he became a Squadron Leader and worked at the Air Ministry during the Phoney War. When hostilities commenced he became CO of No 64 Squadron, carrying out convoy support operations and eventually fighting in the Battle of Britain. Awarded a DFC, he was given command of a squadron at Leconfield to train urgently required pilots. Eventually he was shot down over the English Channel and rescued by a U-boat, this resulted in a lengthy period as a PoW in camps throughout enemy occupied Europe and Germany. During this period he was involved with the famous 'Wooden Horse' escape and was eventually freed by advancing Russian troops.

Upon his return to the UK he was promoted Wing Commander and worked on the Cabinet Office staff before moving to Headquarters Flying Training Command. He was then appointed Chief Flying Instructor at Cranwell before successfully applying for the post of British Air Attaché in Moscow.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781783033720
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	01/24/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Aeneas Ranald Donald MacDonell, 22nd Chief of Glengarry and 12th Titular Lord MacDonell and Aros, was born in 1913 in Baku, Southern Russia, where his father, the 21st Chief, was the British Vice Consul. As an infant, his mother brought him to England to live with his paternal grandmother. Donald's mother's brothers were both military men and it was his Uncle 'Jacko', who had served in the Royal Flying Corps, who wa

Table of Contents

1 A Career Begins 1

2 No. 54 (F) Squadron, RAF 7

3 The Fleet Air Arm: Conversion and Joining 13

4 The Fleet Air Arm: Egypt 17

5 The Fleet Air Arm: Malta 22

6 The Fleet Air Arm: Return Home 26

7 A Qualified Flying Instructor: Back with the RAF 31

8 London, the Air Ministry, the Phoney War and Romance 35

9 The Outbreak of War 41

10 The Battle of Britain: Early Skirmishes 44

11 The Battle of Britain: Baling Out over Sussex 53

12 The Battle of Britain ‘The Hardest Day’ 58

13 The Battle of Britain: Pilot Training 62

14 Marriage to Diana 66

15 Further Sorties into France 69

16 Shot Down over the Channel 76

17 Kriegsgefangenschaft: Transit 81

18 Kriegsgefangenschaft: Stralsund 88

19 Kriegsgefangenschaft: Stalag Luft III and the ‘Wooden Horse’ 96

20 Douglas Bader 102

21 Kriegsgefangenschaft: Schubin, Poland 104

22 Kriegsgefangenschaft: Sagan Revisited 108

23 The March to the West and the Unknown 112

24 Luckenwalde Camp 121

25 Soviet Liberation and American Repatriation 126

26 The Return 136

27 A Sad Homecoming 139

28 The Long Haul 146

29 Stella 151

30 Cranwell Revisited 155

31 More of Cranwell 166

32 Diana Declines 172

33 Concerns of a Chief Flying Instructor 174

34 Breakdown of Health 180

35 Russian at Cambridge 183

36 The Advent of Nan 188

37 Paris — Borscht, Vodka and Russian Taxi Drivers 190

38 Paris: Valya 195

39 The Home Front 200

40 Paris — Vecherinka 201

41 Christmas at Home 207

42 Last Days in Paris 208

43 Coulsdon or Bodmin? 210

44 Joint Services School for Linguistics 214

45 Home Life and the War Cabinet Office 219

46 Senior Directing Staff (Air) Joint Services' Staff College 224

47 Holidays and Cousin Lindsay 228

48 JSSC and the Visiting General 231

49 Stories and Visits 236

50 Preparing for Moscow 239

51 Moscow: First Impressions 243

52 Sightseeing and Military Intelligence 255

53 Diplomatic Circles 258

54 Suez and a ‘Spontaneous’ Demonstration 261

55 Activities of an Air Attaché 265

56 Cold War 272

57 VIP Visits to Moscow and London 276

58 To Baku and Back 290

59 A Visit from the Secretary of State for Air 297

60 With the Soviets to London 304

61 The Family Holiday in Russia 309

62 Mob Attacks and KGB Pressure 317

63 Last Days in Moscow 321

64 Journey Home from Moscow 327

65 Rockwood 339

Afterword 343

Index 345