By Deborah Larsen
Edward Eugene McDonald
Edward Eugene McDonald was born in Utica, Michigan, on August 19, 1920, the son of Edward and Margaret Harvey McDonald. He attended school in Mount Clemens when he was younger and graduated from Armada High School in 1937. His family soon after moved to Rochester and lived on Fourth Street.
Edward worked for Michigan Bell Telephone Company before entering the U.S. Army Air Corps in April 1942. He was trained as a radio operator and turret gunner on the B-24 Liberator bomber and was then assigned to the 783rd Bombardment Squadron. The 783rd deployed to the European Theater of Operations in February 1944 and was stationed at the Pantanella Air Field in Italy.
The 783rd conducted strategic bombing missions against Axis-held industrial sites and oil refineries. By late 1944, Edward had flown on 47 successful missions and was looking forward to a furlough that would bring him home to visit his family in Rochester after he completed his 50th mission.
On December 6, 1944, Edward was serving as radio operator and turret gunner on a mission to Bratislava, Slovakia, when his airplane crashed after takeoff. The entire crew perished in the crash.
Edward Eugene McDonald and his crew mates were temporarily buried overseas. Edward’s remains were returned to the U.S. in 1949 and laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. He was posthumously awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.