HILL, Donald Keith
Stats:
rank: F/Sgtstatus: survived
airforce: RAF (no: 1803438 )
born: Australia
added by: Justin
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All Images:
Bio / Text:
Hill, Donald K. F/Sgt RAAF 3-44 / 4-45 (period on 94 sqdn) Aus. 1803438
An Australian usually known as ‘Don’, but later on after his mishaps as ‘Pranger’. Joined 94 on March 15, 1944. Was involved in Operation Zeppelin (Operation Turpitude) flying radio deception flights along the Turkish border from Allepo in June 1944, (attached to 259 Wing with P/O Barber, Lt Freeman and Lt Van der Merwe). Experienced a series of mishaps starting when his Spitfire (BR253), lost fuel - probably hit by flak, during a strafing sortie and force landed at Larisa, November 8, 1944, then the engine cut during a demo flight, force landing Spitfire V ER246, 20 miles N of Athens on December 3, 1944 and after an engine problem he overshot in an emergency landing at Hassani, February 11, 1945 (Spitfire MH672). Finally in landing Auster (RT623) at Sedes is caught by strong wind and flipped over, March 11, 1945. Leaves 94 April 1945.
An Australian usually known as ‘Don’, but later on after his mishaps as ‘Pranger’. Joined 94 on March 15, 1944. Was involved in Operation Zeppelin (Operation Turpitude) flying radio deception flights along the Turkish border from Allepo in June 1944, (attached to 259 Wing with P/O Barber, Lt Freeman and Lt Van der Merwe). Experienced a series of mishaps starting when his Spitfire (BR253), lost fuel - probably hit by flak, during a strafing sortie and force landed at Larisa, November 8, 1944, then the engine cut during a demo flight, force landing Spitfire V ER246, 20 miles N of Athens on December 3, 1944 and after an engine problem he overshot in an emergency landing at Hassani, February 11, 1945 (Spitfire MH672). Finally in landing Auster (RT623) at Sedes is caught by strong wind and flipped over, March 11, 1945. Leaves 94 April 1945.
Spitfire Art Prints:
Squadrons:
| Squadrons add | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Airforce | Sqdrn | Start | Finish |
| RAF | 94 | 1944-03-01 | -- |
Aircraft:
| Aircraftadd | ||
|---|---|---|
| Serial | Note | Date |
| JK742 | Convoy patrol 'NUMERATOR' | 1944-03-25 |
| JK742 | Convoy patrol 'NURSEMAID' | 1944-03-29 |
| MA363 | Convoy patrol 'RUMP' | 1944-04-17 |
| MH703 | Scrambled but nothing seen. | 1944-04-21 |
| JK327 | Convoy patrol 'TULLOW' | 1944-04-24 |
| MH360 | Convoy patrol 'CASING' | 1944-05-16 |
| MH360 | Convoy patrol 'SOLO' | 1944-05-17 |
| MH508 | Bomber escort (15 SAAF squadron) to targets in Crete. Bombers met with accurate A/A a number damaged. | 1944-05-21 |
| MH360 | Convoy patrol 'HANKEY' | 1944-05-24 |
| MH363 | Scrambled. Bogey was friendly A/C | 1944-05-27 |
| MH363 | Scrambled. Bogey was friendly. | 1944-05-27 |
| Four pilots including Sgt Hill left on attachments to 259 wing. (Operation Turpitude) | 1944-05-29 | |
| Escort convoy 'TYPEWRITER' | 1944-07-20 | |
| MH558 | Escort convoy | 1944-07-30 |
| MH558 | Escort convoy but A/C had L.R.T trouble. 12.15 to 12.30 | 1944-07-30 |
| MA508 | Scrambled N.W of Benghasi | 1944-08-03 |
| EN254 | Sweep over Crete, no E/A seen. | 1944-08-11 |
| Nil flying from 27-08-44 to 18-10-44 squadron moving to Kalamaki, Greece. | 1944-08-27 | |
| BR253 | 4 a/c strayed two trains between Devdeglija & Gorgopi. One a/c damaged by flak & received shoulder wound. | 1944-10-29 |
| BR363 | Attacked ammunition train between Veles & Skopje. 2 engines 30 trucks destroyed. Flak at Krivolak. | 1944-11-06 |
| BR253 | Strafing attacks on rail traffic between Veles & Skopje. Flak encountered Lt Boshoff killed. | 1944-11-08 |
| Recce Crete along roads Heraklion to Tympaki & Rethymnon. | 1944-11-22 | |
| LZ928 | Six a/c off to Heraklion, Crete. Have to return airfield u/s. | 1944-12-01 |
| Section ordered to beat up communist meeting in Athens. F/Sgt Hill made a force landing 20 miles N.E of Athens, pilot unhurt. | 1944-12-03 | |
| ER525 | Carried a standing patrol over Megara. | 1944-12-06 |
| EE782 | Airborne with F/Sgt Tickner strafing attack on ELAS MT's N.E Athens two destroyed 4 damaged. | 1944-12-08 |
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