


John Paul McDougall
JOHN PAUL McDOUGALL F/Sgt. RAF.VR d. 30 May 1944 aged 20 1795225
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JOHN PAUL McDOUGALL was the eldest son of Capt. J. P. McDougall and Ethel May (née Cowburn), of Inglewood, 8 Egerton Road, Monton, (married in Barton district, first quarter of 1923). As a young boy, he attended Monton Green Council School, from where he won a scholarship to Manchester Grammar School. There he played for both the school's football and cricket first teams, and also became a member of Monton Cricket Club. He joined the RAF in October 1941 and under the University short course scheme attended Belfast University.
He was a member of No. 13 OTU (Operational Training Unit), formed in April 1940 as part of No. 6 Group RAF Bomber Command at RAF Bicester, originally to train aircrew for the Bristol Blenheim light day bomber. He died while on active service. Trained as a navigator, he had completed his training in Rhodesia.
He was onboard a de Havilland Mosquito Mk.IV, reg. HX984, when an engine cut forced it to crashland at Ford Hall, Birkenhead, Wirral on 30 May 1944. The aircraft was heard broadcasting a mayday by ground stations at Valley and Woodvale. This is the entry from Valley's ORB: May 30th 1944, “During the afternoon a Mosquito from Bicester was heard calling “Mayday” on Command Guard. Unfortunately it was impossible to get a bearing on the aircraft and despite the assistance of Woodvale the aircraft crashed near Birkenhead, one of the crew being killed and the other injured.” The crew was F/O (160640) Frank Edwin LEES (pilot) RAFVR, injured, and F/Sgt (1795225 ) John Paul McDOUGALL (nav.) RAFVR, killed.
His name is recorded in the Roll of Honour of the Scouts, having been a member of the 1st Manchester Grammar School Scout group. His name is on the Memorial Board at the Monton Methodist Church. In his will, he left his effects to his father.
Researched and written by Paul R Speakman
