Sgt Douglas W McMillan, DFM

b. 08.08.1917 in Fossoway, Kinross

Parents: Douglas and Mary McMillan of The Terrace, St. Boswells

School: Royal High School, Stirling

Occupation: Civil Servant at Greenock at enlistment

Enlisted: August 1942

Regiment: RAFVR Aircrew

Served: France & Germany

Awards: DFM

Douglas and a fellow crewman, Flying Officer Norman Allan Marston, were awarded for their actions on 21/22 January 1944 when

 

“This officer and airman were air bomber and mid-upper gunner-respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Magdeburg. On the outward flight the aircraft was attacked by a fighter and damage was sustained. In spite of this, the mission was continued and the target was successfully attacked. On the homeward flight, whilst over the North Sea the petrol supply became exhausted and the aircraft had to be brought down on to the sea. This was skilfully accomplished but the violence of the waves broke the aircraft in two and the dinghy drifted away. Undaunted, Flying Officer Marston and Sergeant McMillan discarded most of their equipment, plunged into the water and swam towards the dinghy. They succeeded in reaching it and, although almost exhausted, scrambled aboard. Although numb with cold and greatly fatigued they struggled valiantly against the violent seas to return to the sinking aircraft but their efforts were in vain. In most distressing circumstances this officer and airman displayed great courage and resolution and their conduct was worthy of the highest praise.”

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Circumstances of death: Killed in Operations, 14.03.1944.  His Halifax bomber had again taken off from RAF Breighton in Yorkshire for a raid on railway facilities in Le Mans but the aircraft was hit by ground-fire and crashed near the target site.

Memorial: buried in Le Mans West Cemetery, Sarthe, France.