Individual Details

Fl Lt Joseph DONAGHY RAF

(3 Apr 1912 - 11 Dec 1977)

Events

Birth3 Apr 1912Low Walker, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland
Residence10 Sep 191413, Western Glower, Low Walker, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland
Military1929joining the Royal Air Force and gaining an apprenticeship as a fitter - RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire
MilitaryFrom 1932 to 1939in the RAF with 503 Squadron - RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire
Military1934RAF Donibristle, Rosyth, Dunfermline, Fife
Marriage3 Aug 1934the Register Office, Abbot Street, Dunfermline, Fife - Mary Ellen COLSON
Residence3 Aug 1934The Aerodrome, RAF Donibristle, Rosyth, Dunfermline, Fife
Occupation3 Aug 1934fitter in the Royal Air Force - RAF Donibristle, Rosyth, Dunfermline, Fife
MilitaryFrom Abt 1935 to 1936Iraq
MilitaryFrom 1936 to 1938with 30 Squadron at on seaplanes - Kalafrana, Malta
Miscellaneous1938served with 50 Squadron as ground crew - RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire
Residence29 Sep 1939Lower High Street, North Kesteven, Lincolnshire
Occupation29 Sep 1939corporal with 50 B Squadron - RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire
Marriage1940North Kesteven Registration District, Lincolnshire - Ethel Annie COLSON
MiscellaneousAbt 1940was promoted to sergeant
Miscellaneous17 Mar 1941was mentioned in dispatches in the London Gazette
Miscellaneous20 May 1941did his elementary flying training - RAF Bowden, Alberta
Miscellaneous1942did his Service Flying training - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Miscellaneous5 Feb 1943was promoted to Pilot Officer (Probationary)
MiscellaneousMay 1943was posted to train on Sunderlands - No 4 OTU, RAF Stranraer
Miscellaneous5 Aug 1943was promoted to Flying Officer (Probationary)
MiscellaneousFeb 1945was posted - 302 FTU, RAF Oban
Miscellaneous5 Feb 1945was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
MiscellaneousJun 1945was posted - RAF Alness
MiscellaneousJul 1945was posted to fly Sunderlands - RAF Redhills Lake, Madras, India
MilitaryFrom 1946 to 1955as a RAF Reservist
Military5 Jun 1946in the RAF until his retirement
ResidenceAbt 197532, Monkhouse Avenue, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland
ResidenceAbt 197626, Spence Terrace, North Shields
OccupationDec 1977 retired Chief Engineer of Aviation Services - Warbirds Museum, Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire
Death11 Dec 1977in a flying accident - Sierra De Guadarrama, Spain
Probate30 Mar 1978Newcastle Upon Tyne

Families

SpouseMary Ellen COLSON (1912 - 1939)
ChildBrian DONAGHY (1938 - 1997)
SpouseEthel Annie COLSON (1919 - 1995)
FatherHugh DONAGHY (1870 - 1954)
MotherCatherine "Katie" SPENCE (1881 - 1963)
SiblingGeorge Wallace DONAGHY RAF (1902 - 1983)
SiblingJohn DONAGHY (1905 - 1984)
SiblingJessie DONAGHY (1908 - 1949)

Notes

Residence

This from his father's military records.

Military

Joseph's service number was 563094.

Marriage

They were married by warrant by the Sherriff Substitute of Fife. The witnesses were Victor Heritage of 14, Norval Place, Rosyth and Joseph's sister Jessie Donaghy of 26, Guildhall Street, Dunfermline.

Residence

Joseph was recorded as a widower.

Miscellaneous

Retrained at Virden, Manitoba [EFTS ] in about 1942 and Claresholm, Alberta [SFTS].

Death

Killed in a Heinkel HE 111 [Spanish Air Force Casa 2 -111 reg 462 06, UK Reg G-BFFS) on a ferry flight from Madrid to Blackbushe to the 'War Birds' museum, owned by Doug Arnold, when they crashed into the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains.

Probate

His effects were valued at £3299 (£22,626 in 2018).