Macdonald, James Alexander Stirling: my Air Force recollections (March 10, 2012)

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Interviewer: Maher, Ceilidhe

Interviewee: Macdonald, James Alexander Stirling, b. 1921

ABSTRACT: James Macdonald joined the airforce in 1942. After receiving training in both Edmonton and Saskatoon, Mr. Macdonald travelled overseas to Bournemouth, UK for additional training with an Operational Training Unit and a Conversion Unit. He was posted to Squadron 429 as a navigator, and carried out four missions before being shot down over France. On the way to Stuttgart, the engine of the plane Mr. Macdonald was on was struck by the Germans and set aflame and Mr. Macdonald was forced to evacuate the aircraft. Once he had landed and realized he was in France, Mr. Macdonald's goal was to walk west towards Toulouse, where the French Underground would help him get out of France. During his time in France, the Jennevin family aided him in his efforts. When the French Underground in Toulouse was discovered and bombed by the Germans, Mr. Macdonald was then taken to the border of France and Switzerland by a farmer. Here, he was re-united with the flight engineer from his aircraft that was shot down, and the two were taken over the border into Switzerland by French smugglers. During their time in Switzerland, Mr. Macdonald and his flight engineer had to stay at a Swiss Camp for approximately two months, with quite horrendous living conditions. He then went through Spain, back to England, and eventually back to Canada. Upon arriving back home, however, Mr. Macdonald was deported back overseas to East-Asia, due to a lack of navigators. Luckily, he was posted to his squadron the day that the war ended, so he was able to return home to Canada. Time Log: 0:00- 0:46: introduction 0:46-1:58: life before the war and general overview of experience 1:58-3:20: reaction to outbreak of war and reason for enlisting 3:20-6:26: basic training in Edmonton, advanced training in Saskatoon, additional training in Edmonton 6:26-8:07: training incident in Edmonton 8:07-9:36: journey to Halifax and overseas 9:36-11:40: addition training with Operational Training Unit in Bournemouth, UK 11:40-12:27: small raid to Dreux, France 12:27-13:04: training with Halifaxes and Lancasters with Conversion Unit 13:04-14:31: posted to Squadron 429 14:31-18:19: missions carried out in 1944 prior to being shot down (Leipzig, tactical diversions, "gardening trip", La Mere) 18:19-24:52: Plane being shot down on the way to Stuttgart 24:52-26:25: initial landing (into a tree) 26:25-29:22: landing and beginning of walk towards Spain 29:22-30:51: realization that he was in France (as opposed to Germany) 30:51-33:54: decision to walk west (away from crash), towards Toulouse and supplies available at the time 33:54-36:25: continued journey west and arrival in abandoned farmhouse 36:25-39:12: initial contact with the French Underground 39:12-41:20: passed on to another member of French Underground 41 :20-44:55: journey into the town and transfer to another member of French Forces (Jennevin) 44:55-46:06: waking up to French Forces Members and Cross of Lorraine Bread 46:06-50:07: discussing history of Jennevin family and their previous experiences with the French Underground and the Germans 50:07-52:59: realization that he could no longer walk toward Toulouse because it had been bombed by the Germans (Underground had been discovered there) 52:59-56:44: taken to border of France and Switzerland by a farmer 56:44 -1:00:32: arrival at small house on the border, re-unification with flight engineer from plane 1:00:32-1:02:10: led by guides to the border of Switzerland 1:02:10-1:04:44: crossing of border and pass off to Swiss Army 1:04:44-1:07:03: internment in Swiss camp 1:07:03-1:09:16: journey from Switzerland through Spain and back to England 1 :09:22-1:11:50: return to Canada and posted back overseas to East-Asia 1:11:50-1:14:53: return home and life after the war 1:14:53-1:16:39: conclusion and closing statements

An interview/narrative of Jim Macdonald's experiences during World War II. Flying Officer Macdonald served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Interview took place on March 10, 2012.

Rank: Flying Officer.

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
  • Title of paper: "Oral History and the Trivialized Aspects of the Second World War".
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 51.5, 10.5
  • 54.75844, -2.69531
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • MJ_719
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • March 10, 2012
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps and 44 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
Rights
  • This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
DOI

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