DM Davidson RAAF: any claims 33 Sqn?

[BruceMk11]

I'm after any claims for DM Davidson RAAF, who served on 33 Sqn RAF 8/41-
3/42. His first flight was apparently on 26/8/41 and last flight 19/3/42. He was promoted F/S 8/1/42. Not interested in his claims on other units!


Regards, Bruce

[Aussie7]

Bruce,
from the book 'Hurricanes over the Sands' by M Lavigne, DM Davidson is not listed in the known claims list for 33 Sqn. The only claim I have ever been able to find for him was 1 Fw190 dam with 65 Sqn in late 1944.

Ian

[BruceMk11]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for the response; I too have only that claim with 65 Sqn in 11/44.
Seems like the only e/a he was credited with destroying was on the ground-perhaps the MC 202 claimed 30/3/44 at Iesi. He was leading 450
Sqn on that op (still a F/O).


Regards, Bruce

[Frank Olynyk]

With 33 Sqn I have a claim by a Sgt Davidson (no initials or nationality) on Nov 23, 1941 at 1000 hours, in the LG 125 area, of a Ju-88 probable, shared with a P/O Edy in Hurricane I Z4565 and Sgt Albert Edward Kelsell (RAAF) in W9351; Davidson was in V7772. Documentation: ORB: Air 27/367.

I have an additional shared claim (Ju-88 damaged) by a Sgt Davidson of 33 Sqn on July 16, 1942 (who may be a different person) between 1905 and 2030, on a sweep, from L.G. 154; Alamein line. This was shared with F/Lt L C Wade (USA) in Hurricane IIc BP186; F/O Maher (no initials or nationality) in a Hurricane IIc; and F/O James Wooller in xx523. Documentation: ORB; 211 Group OpSum: Air 23/1805.

Further, I have a claim by a F/Sgt Davidson (no initials or nationality) of 32 Sqn on March 25, 1942 East of Harwich between 1035 and 1145 in Hurricane IIc Z3830 "Z". Documentation: FC3; ORB. No idea of course as to whether this is the same Davidson.
Finally, the claim with 65 Sqn I have as by F/Lt D E Davidson (Aust) on Nov 2, 1944 at 1540 hours 15-20 m W of Minden, of an FW-190 damaged, in Mustang III FB114. Documentation: FC3; CR: Air 50/25-319&320. The "D E" could be a typo on my part, or a misreading of the ORB and/or combat report.

Is D M/D E Davidson's full name known? Service number(s)?

I hope this doesn't confuse things too much.

Frank.

[Martin Gleeson]

Frank, Bruce and Ian
Douglas Mackenzie Davidson has 4 files on the National Archives of Australia website, but only one has been digitized - and therefore free to read - to date. His records show him with 33 Sqn. from 26 August 1941 to 1 April 1942 (to 450 Sqn.). He also served with 65 Sqn. from 5 October 1944 to 29 March 1945 flying Mustangs. There appears to be some inconsistancies in the various pages, so beware.
He was awarded the DFC on 16 June 1944 for his service in the Middle East. The citation notes that he "has, himself, destroyed at least one enemy aircraft." Oddly this is the only reference in the entire file to any aircraft victory claims. There is a great typed page of details extracted from his logbook covering all the operational units he flew with. He died in an aircraft accident in the UK on 6 January 1946. This file is well worth viewing and perhaps the other 3 files not yet digitized contain more information.
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Item...=1&O=0&T=I&C=4
According to his record he did not serve with 32 Sqn. and was in the Middle East until c.mid-1944.
There are no RAAF 'D.E.' Davidsons on the NAA website, but one does find three 'D.M.'s. Donald Malcolm (19578) has not had his file digitized yet, but he was a Sgt. on leaving the service in 1946. The other was Douglas Mcintosh (435717) who only enlisted in 1943 and does not appear to have served outside Australia. His one file can be viewed online.
Hope this helps,
Martin Gleeson.

[BruceMk11]

Thanks for your list of claims Frank; the first one-23/11/41-could well be a match. I have a copy of his CR of 2/11/44. His service no: 402321.
Thanks for those details Martin. I think the reference to an e/a destroyed
in his DFC citation was-considering the way it's worded-an aircraft on the
ground, quite possibly an MC 202 at Iesi, 30/3/44.


Regards, Bruce

[Michael Louey]

Hello,

Just noticed this conversation. Coincedently I have been responding to a lady investigating Doug Davidson's crash site from 1946. As part of the information I supplied her was a bit about his service history as per below:

One of the books 'Defeat to Victory' by John Bennett (Published by the RAAF) does give some more information on the pilot and flight.

Doug Davidson crashed returning to England from 453 Squadrons base in Wunstorf (near Hannover) in Germany.

Extra details about the pilot are: Sqd Ldr D. M. Davidson DFC, 402321, 33 Sqd RAF, 450 Sqdn RAAF, 65 Sqd RAF, 451 Sqd RAAF, command 453 Sqd RAAF 1945 - 1946, Warehouseman of Normanhurst NSW, b. Sydney, 13 Dec 1919, Killed in Aircraft accident 6 Jan 1946.

He was a very popular C.O. and his replacement Wing Commander Tod Hilton DFC organised 2 minutes silence for Sqd Ldr Davidson on taking command.

Bennett was a serving RAAF officer when writing this book and the service details for WC Davidson would have been taken from official records

Regards

Michael