Full Name:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Antigonish District:
Service Rank or Number:
Date of Enlistment:
Location of Enlistment:
Theatres of Service:
Conflicts:
Rank on Retirement or Discharge:
Medals & Decorations:
Defence Medal
Burma Star
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
Oak Leaf Emblem
Tour Completed Badge
1939-45 War Medal.
Biography
Hugh “Hughie” Joseph MacDonald was born April 11th, 1917 in Springfield, Antigonish County, to Dave MacDonald and Mary Elizabeth (Chisholm) MacDonald. He attended school in Springfield before continuing his education at St. Andrews. After leaving school, Hugh worked a variety of jobs in Antigonish before travelling to northern Ontario, where he was employed in the gold mines.
Hugh enlisted as aircrew with the Royal Canadian Air Force on June 16th, 1941 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He trained in Brandon, Manitoba, Ontario, Calgary, Alberta and Debert, Nova Scotia before joining a coastal patrol squadron operating off the coast of Nova Scotia.
He was later sent overseas aboard the troopship War Acadia, which carried approximately 5,000 troops to England. Upon arriving in Liverpool, the ship came under a German air raid, forcing those aboard to remain below deck until it was safe to disembark. Hugh then completed three months of additional training at Barmouth, Wales alongside Australian, New Zealand and British personnel.
After completing his training, Hugh was transferred to RAF No. 117 Squadron with the South East Asia Air Command, serving in India and Burma (Myanmar). Flying the Douglas C-47 transport aircraft, he completed a tour of operations against the Japanese, logging more than 700 hours of flying over enemy territory. Having enlisted as a Sergeant, Hugh earned a commission during the war, rising through the ranks to Pilot Officer, Flying Officer and eventually Flight Lieutenant.
For his wartime service, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal, Burma Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, Oak Leaf Emblem, Tour Completed Badge and the 1939-45 War Medal.
Hugh returned to Canada in August 1945. He married Mary F. Fraser in June 1946, and together they raised three children. Following the war, he worked as sales manager at Keltic Motors in Antigonish before later owning Strait Chevrolet Oldsmobile Ltd. in Port Hawkesbury. He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Antigonish.
Hugh passed away on April 27th, 2014 at the age of 97.
Return to the Antigonish Area Veterans Search