Donald Roderick MacLaren DSO, MC and Bar, DFC, Croix de Guerre, Legion D'Honneur
General
Donald Roderick MacLaren, a Scots-Canadian, was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on 28 May 1893, but moved with his family to Calgary, Alberta, six years later. He became an expert marksman early in life(something he had in common with other successful WW1 pilots), and managed to gain a place at university. Unfortunately ill health forced him to leave early in 1914 and he then worked with his family in a fur trading post.
On 8 May 1917 he joined the RFC and, after training, became an instructor at Camp Borden, Ontario. In Fall 1917 he was posted to England and arrived in France on 23 November joining 46 Squadron on the western front.
On 6 March 1918 he scored his first victory(a Hannover 2 seater), following this with an Albatros DV on 10 March and then in one day (21 March) he bombed a German long range gun, then destroyed two LVG 2 seaters and a Balloon. He was then promoted to Flight Commander on 6 April. He was awarded a Military Cross in April and a Bar to the MC in May. A Distinguished Flying Cross followed in August(during which month he was on leave for 3 weeks). His 54th, and final, victory was a Hannover 2 seater on 9 October. The next day he broke his leg wrestling with a friend and was sent back to England on 6 November, five days before the end of the war. During his war service, Captain MacLaren often flew with Lieutenant
V.M.Yeates sharing two victories with him. Yeates went on to write a novel based upon his experiences in 46 Squadron called Winged Victory, one of the best books ever written about WW1 flying.Donald R. MacLaren was awarded a Distinguished Service Order in February 1919 followed by the French awards of the Croix de Guerre and Legion D'Honneur shortly thereafter. By the end of the war he had been promoted to Major(although he was a Captain for most of 1918) and subsequently assisted in the formation of the Canadian Air Force until the late 1920's, when he resigned his commission to go into commercial aviation.
He died in July 1989.
Captain MacLaren must have been gentle with his aircraft because information researched so far, only records him as flying four different Sopwith Camels. Serial B9153 from early March until May 1918, D6418 from early May until early July, D6603 from early July until late August and F2137 for the remainder of his war service. If anyone has any photographs, colour profiles or other information on any of these four serial numbered Camels, the Squadron would greatly appreciate a copy. Email to
rfc46_squad@yahoo.com
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Combat Reports