- Douglas McGregor (aviator)
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Douglas Urquhart McGregor Nickname "Mac" Born 3 March 1895
Waterdown, Ontario, CanadaDied 9 June 1953
Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaAllegiance George V of the British Empire Service/branch Aviation Rank captain Unit No. 23 Squadron RFC, No. 49 Squadron RFC Awards Military Cross Captain Douglas Urquhart McGregor was a Canadian World War I flying ace credited with 12 official aerial victories.
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Early life
Douglas Urquhart McGregor was the son of Doctor John O. McGregor. The younger McGregor attended McGill University and played on their Redmen football team during the early years of World War I.[1]
World War I
McGregor joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1916. He sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia for England aboard the Corsican on 25 September 1916. He was commissioned as a temporary probational second lieutenant on 6 October 1916.[2] On 7 December 1916, in a mistaken attempt to correct his name, the London Gazette changed his middle name to "Urchart".[3]
After being trained, McGregor joined 23 Squadron at Baisieux on 20 April 1917 as a Spad VII pilot. He survived Bloody April to begin his streak of aerial successes on 13 May 1917. On that day, he teamed with Conn Standish O'Grady to set a German Albatros D.III aflame in midair. He would not score again until 6 July, when he teamed with William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick and another pilot to set a German reconnaissance two-seater on fire. The following day, he again teamed with William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick to set another German recon machine afire over Houthoulst Forest; five minutes later, he burned another one on this own. On 13 and 15 July, he would send down enemy planes out of control.[4]
August saw him score another out-of-control win on the 7th, then flame one German on the 16th and destroy another. On 19 August 1917, he was appointed Flight Commander with concomitant rank of captain.[5] A week later, he led his flight by scoring twice more. Exactly a month later, on 26 September 1917, he ended his tally by destroying an Albatros D.V. His final total was two enemy planes set afire, two other enemy planes flamed in concert with other pilots, three enemy planes destroyed, a victory for sharing in destroying another German plane, and four enemy planes driven down out of control.[6]
26 September 1917 also saw him awarded the Military Cross in the name of Douglas Urchart McGregor.[7] The accompanying award citation gives insight into McGregor's exploits: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading patrols against hostile formations. He has attacked and driven down enemy aircraft on several occasions, in spite of their being in superior numbers, displaying in every instance splendid dash and determination to get to close range.[8]
Post World War I
McGregor became a physician after the war. He died unexpectedly while attending a wrestling match, on 9 June 1953, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.[9]
Endnotes
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/mcgregor1.php Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/mcgregor1.php Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 7 December 1916) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29852/supplements/11948 Retrieved 11 February 2011. Note: His middle name is also supposedly sometimes rendered as "Wichard".
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/mcgregor1.php Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 11 September 1917) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30279/supplements/9414 Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/mcgregor1.php Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ )Supplement to the London Gazette, 26 September 1917) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30308/supplements/9972; http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30308/supplements/9977 Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 9 January 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30466/supplements/581; http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30466/supplements/629 Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/mcgregor1.php Retrieved 12 February 2011.
People and aircraft Campaigns and battles Strategic bombing (German, Cuxhaven) · Bombing of cities · Fokker Scourge · Flight over Vienna · Bloody April · BattlesEntente Powers air services Australian Flying Corps · British air services (Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Air Force) · French Air Service · Imperial Russian Air Force · Italian Military Air Corps · United States Army Air Service · Greek air services (Army Air Service, Naval Air Service)Central Powers air services German air services (Army Air Service, Navy Air Service) · Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops · Ottoman Air Force · Bulgarian Army Aeroplane SectionCategories:- 1895 births
- 1953 deaths
- Canadian flying aces
- Canadian military personnel of World War I
- People from Hamilton, Ontario
- McGill Redmen football players
- Recipients of the Military Cross
- Canadian physicians
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