McGowan, Donald Oswin

Date of Birth	1908-07-22
Date of Death	1930-03-19
Age	22
Birth Place	Australia, New South Wales, Sydney
Died During Service	Yes
Cause of Death	Accident - Aircraft Plane Crash

Service Details

Service	RAN - Royal Australian Navy
Date of Entry	1923-02-08
Rank	Leading Seaman
Rate	Telegraphist
Official Number	13919
Discharged Date	1930-03-19
Discharge Type	DD - Discharged Dead
Service Period	1923-1930
Service Record	Yes
Ship	Albatross (I) HMAS - Seaplane Tender

Other Details

Tingira	Yes
Fleet Air Arm	Yes

Cemetery Details

Cemetery Name	Cornelian Bay Public Cemetery
Cemetery Address	Hobart, TAS
Demonination/Area	Old Church of England
Section	UU
Grave Number	307
Grave Type	Burial - Grave

Notes

Australian Naval Aviation Pioneer Memorial monument at Rookwood Old Church of England Section H, Row 11, Grave 1136. Photos of Rookwood Family Plot with mention of Donald. FIRST Australian Naval Aviator to be killed in flying incident. Aircraft Supermarine Seagull III A9-4. While spotting for the Australia, aircraft went into spin and crashed Pilot Officer Alan Gordon Grant RAAF & LEUT Ian Desborough Elliott RN (Observer) survived.

Sources

Service Record - Australian National Archives Mercury (Hobart) 29 March 1930 P13; Cumberland Argus 10 April 1930 P; Tweed Daily 31 March 1930 P3; plus numerous others

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