Donald Edward Jackson RCAF (J/85182).
Donald Jackson was born on 1st November 1920 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Edward and Matilda (nee Read) Jackson. The family home was 636 Assumption Street, Windsor. His mother had died when he was a young boy in 1928. He attended Assumption Street School and Patterson College in Windsor before beginning an apprenticeship at a drugstore in Windsor. His pharmacy apprenticeship also involved studying at the Ontario College of Pharmacy between 1939 and 1942. He left this apprenticeship to join the RCAF. He enlisted for RCAF service on 25th February 1942 in Windsor and stated that he wished to be a member of aircrew, specifically to train as a pilot. After basic assessments he trained as an air bomber gaining his Air Bomber's Wings on 22nd January 1943. His younger brother Raymond Reid Jackson (J/35909) also served in the RCAF during WW2. Donald Jackson married Winifred Alice Long, of 824 Howard Ave, Windsor on 30th January 1943 just before going overseas.
He arrived in the UK in March 1943 and trained at 2 (O)AFU beginning 24th May 1943, 23 OTU beginning 22nd June 1943, 1659 HCU beginning 28th September 1943 and was posted to 434 Squadron on 26th October 1943. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on 27th February 1944. Donald Jackson other than he was twenty three years old when he was killed and was buried with many of his countrymen at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. His medal set was sold at auction in 1999 by Christie's.
This photograph is said to show Donald Jackson. At the time of this photograph he was reported to have flown seven operational flights. My thanks to Alan Soderstrom for this photograph.
P/O Donald Jackson's gravestone at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
I feel it is also worthy of inclusion on this page detailing Donald Jackson family and service that his wife, Winifred Alice Long, had a brother who served in the RCAF during the Second World War. Ronald Walter Long had enlisted in August 1940 and after pilot training in Canada was posted overseas to the UK to complete his training. While training at 1 (O)AFO at Wigtown he was the pilot of Anson AX321 that crashed on 17th August 1942. He escaped serious injury and completed his training, he initial flew operationally with 78 Squadron in 1943. Having received a commission he was posted to 405 Squadron PFF in January 1944. When Don Jackson died in March 1943 Ronald Long's name was listed in the nexts of kin list and I would guess that he attended the funeral service for the crew of Halifax LL178. F/Lt Ronald Long RCAF (J/18760) was killed on 15th / 16th September 1944 while serving with 405 Squadron flying Lancaster PB527. The aircraft crashed into the sea and his body was later washed ashore and buried at Fourfeldt Gravlund Esbjerg, Denmark. He was awarded a DFC after his death, Gazetted on 14th November 1944.