Peter MacDougall

{{Short description|Scottish World War I flying ace}}  {{EngvarB|date=April 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{distinguish|Peter McDougall}} {{Infobox military person | name = Peter Aitken MacDougall | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1898|8|11}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1955|8|18|1898|8|11}} | birth_place = Lerwick, Shetland Islands | death_place = Cape Town, South Africa | burial_label = | burial_place = | burial_coordinates =  | nickname = Pat | allegiance = United Kingdom | branch = British Army<br/>Royal Air Force | service_years = 1916–1919 | rank = Lieutenant | unit = No. 24 Squadron RFC | commands = | battles = {{tree list}} * World War I ** Western Front {{tree list/end}} | awards = Military Cross | relations = | other_work = Employee of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank }} Lieutenant '''Peter Aitken MacDougall (or McDougal)''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MC}} (11 August 1898 – 18 August 1955) was a Scottish World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.<ref name="theaerodrome">{{cite web |url=https://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/scotland/macdougall.php |title=Peter Aitken MacDougall |work=The Aerodrome |year=2015 |accessdate=20 May 2015 }}</ref>

==Biography== MacDougall was born in Lerwick, the son of Major Peter MacDougall, a schoolmaster at the Central Public School, and his wife Florence. After leaving school he worked for the Union Bank of Scotland, before joining the Royal Flying Corps as a cadet in 1917,<ref name="theaerodrome"/> and being commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant (on probation) on 21 June.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=6 July 1917 |supp=y |issue=30170 |page=6788 |nolink=yes}}</ref> He was confirmed in his rank and appointed a flying officer on 23 August.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=11 September 1917 |supp=y |issue=30281 |page=9444 |nolink=yes}}</ref>

MacDougall was posted to No. 24 Squadron RFC. He was reported as being wounded in action in early November 1917,<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1917/1917%20-%201168.html |title=The Roll of Honour: Wounded |issue=463 |volume=IX |page=1168 |journal=Flight |date=8 November 1917 |accessdate=20 May 2015 }}</ref> but gained his first aerial victory on the 15th of that month, flying an Airco DH.5 single-seat fighter, driving down out of control an Albatros D.III over Diksmuide.<ref name="theaerodrome"/>

No. 24 Squadron was then re-equipped with S.E.5 fighters, and on 19 February 1918, MacDougall and Lieutenants Andrew Cowper, Ronald T. Mark, and Reuben Hammersley shared in the downing of a Rumpler C over Servais and a DFW C over Bernot. Two days later, on 21 February, he drove down an Albatros D.V south of Honnecourt, and on the 26th he destroyed a Fokker Dr.I east of Laon. On 6 March he drove down another D.V east of St. Quentin, and destroyed a Type C reconnaissance aircraft south-east of St. Quentin on the 12th.<ref name="theaerodrome"/> He was reported wounded in action for a second time at the end of March.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%200341.html |title=The Roll of Honour: Wounded |issue=483 |volume=X |page=337 |journal=Flight |date=28 March 1918 |accessdate=20 May 2015 }}</ref>

MacDougall was awarded the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 10 May 1918. His citation read: :Temporary Second Lieutenant Peter Aitken MacDougall, General List and Royal Flying Corps. ::"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He always showed great initiative and skill in attacking enemy aircraft, and drove down or destroyed several enemy machines. On one occasion while on patrol he encountered three enemy two-seater machines, and, though his engine was giving trouble, he attacked them single-handed and drove one of them down out of control, having shot the observer. On another occasion, after driving down an enemy machine, he attacked and silenced a battery of six guns which were firing on our machines. His example of pluck and determination was of the utmost value to the squadron."<ref>{{London Gazette |date=10 May 1918 |supp=y |issue=30681 |page=5701 |nolink=yes}}</ref>

MacDougall was eventually transferred to the RAF's unemployed list on 29 April 1919.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=29 April 1919 |issue=31315 |page=5347 |nolink=yes}}</ref> He then returned to his career in banking, working for the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank in London, China, Thailand, the Malay States, and Ceylon. He retired in 1951, and settled in Cape Town, South Africa, where he died four years later in 1955.<ref name="theaerodrome"/>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macdougal, Peter}} Category:1898 births Category:1955 deaths Category:People from Lerwick Category:Royal Flying Corps officers Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War I Category:British World War I flying aces Category:Scottish flying aces Category:Recipients of the Military Cross

Peter MacDougall

Connections

Linked from

Links to (23 total)