Individual Details
Roland A. McDonald
(3 Jun 1921 - 9 Oct 1942)
St. Joseph Gazette, St. Joseph, Missouri, Monday, October 12, 1942, Page 3, Col. 6: Lieut. M'Doanld Killed In Crash. Co-Pilot of Bomber Fatally Injured in Wreck Near Walterboro, S.C. Lieut. Roland A. McDonald, 21 years old, son of Dr. and Mrs. Lee L. McDonald, 1041 Felix street, was killed late Friday in the crash of an army bomber near Walterboro, S. C., according to information received by his parents Saturday afternoon. Full details concerning Lieutenant McDonald's death are not known but an Associated Press dispatch from Columbia, S. C. Saturday night said two other flyers lost their lives when the plane was wrecked 11 miles south of Walterboro. The plane was said to be a bomber and Lieutenant McDonald was co-pilot. Lieutenant McDonald started his flying career here at Rosecrans field under the civilian pilot training program. He enlisted in the army air corps after graduation from Junior College. He received his training at Kelly Field. Bruce filed, Randolph Field and Ellington Field, all in Texas. On last Aug. 5, he received his commission. He was transferred to Columbia, S. C., spending a few days with his parents before joining the 3rd air corps there.
Lieutenant McDonald was born in St. Joseph and attended Central High school and Junior College. He was active in the Sea Scouts here and was a member of the Francis Street Methodist Church. His father is a prominent dentist and his brother, Capt. Wilbur McDonald stationed at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, was a well-known physician here before entering the army. Besides his parents and brother, Lieutenant McDonald is survived by two other brothers, Lee McDonald, Jr., who is with the Lockheed Aircraft Company at Burbank, Cal., and Daniel McDonald, a law school student at the University of Missouri. The body will be brought to St. Joseph and taken to Meierhoffer's mortuary.
Lieutenant McDonald was born in St. Joseph and attended Central High school and Junior College. He was active in the Sea Scouts here and was a member of the Francis Street Methodist Church. His father is a prominent dentist and his brother, Capt. Wilbur McDonald stationed at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, was a well-known physician here before entering the army. Besides his parents and brother, Lieutenant McDonald is survived by two other brothers, Lee McDonald, Jr., who is with the Lockheed Aircraft Company at Burbank, Cal., and Daniel McDonald, a law school student at the University of Missouri. The body will be brought to St. Joseph and taken to Meierhoffer's mortuary.
Events
| Birth | 3 Jun 1921 | St Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri |  | ||
| Residence | 1930 | Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son - St Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri | | ||
| Residence | 1935 | St Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri | | ||
| Residence | 1 Apr 1940 | Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son - St Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri | | ||
| Military | 16 Dec 1941 | Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth Co., Kansas | | ||
| Death | 9 Oct 1942 | Colleton Co., South Carolina | | ||
| Burial | Lieut. bomber pilot died in the Line of Duty, Mount Mora Cemetery, St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri | |
Families
| Father | Lee Landis McDonald (1874 - 1947) |
| Mother | Lucia Rush Packard (1881 - 1974) |
| Sibling | Lee Landis McDonald Jr. (1909 - 1989) |
| Sibling | Wilbur Packard McDonald (1912 - 1995) |
| Sibling | Daniel L. McDonald (1918 - ) |