Burchell, Donald Frederick

Donald Frederick Burchell was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He served in the Huron Militia, Seaforth Ontario and upon moving to Perth with his family, served in the Lanark Renfrew Scottish Regiment. He joined the RCAF in Ottawa on March 15, 1941, (service # R95743). He received his training at Manning Pool, Toronto, Trenton, Winnipeg and received his wings at Mountain View on December 6, 1941. On January 21 1942 he was promoted to Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner), assigned to the Alouette Squadron 425, Victoriaville, Quebec, and was shipped overseas the same month. On November 9, 1942, Fred and his crew left Dishforth Airfield, North Yorkshire England in a Wellington bomber, on a mission to hit the Port of Hamburg, Germany. but were shot down over Germany. The flight crew that night included Sergeant Pilot Norman Davis of Perth Ontario. Of the six crew members only one survived and eventually made it home to Canada. Fred is buried along side Norman Davis and 3 crew members in the Sage War Cemetery, Sage Germany.