Donald Charles McGee was born on July 15, 1920 in Brooklyn New York. Becoming an aviator was Donald’s sole ambition after reading books of the World War I aces and a book on flying by Assen Jordanoff. After graduating from high school, Donald enlisted into the Army infantry on July 1, 1939 and later applied for the Air Corps Flying Cadet program. After being accepted, Donald began his flight training on April 30^th 1941 in the Flying Cadet Program at Albany, Georgia and graduated on December 12, 1941 with his pilot’s wings and 2^nd Lieutenants bars only five days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Donald was assigned to the 49^th Fighter Group at Morrison Field, Florida, where he and his group were to receive fighter training. The Japanese had just attacked Pearl Harbor and there were no aircraft available for advanced training. With very little training Donald and the 49^th found themselves heading to California on January 6, 1942 where they boarded the SS Mariposa bound for Australia. Mind you they missed advanced aircraft training in aircraft with the horsepower they would be flying with in combat. This also meant that they did not have any time for fighter aerobatic tactics, nor did they ever get to fire their guns. Ever! They were shipped off to combat having never practiced firing their guns or trained to use their gun sights.

After arriving in Melbourne Australia, the 9^th was sent to the RAAF Station Willamtown, New South Wells where the group waited for their aircraft to arrive. It was here that some experienced P-40 pilots who had just arrived from the Philippines and Java joined the group. Donald and the other new pilots listened to the stories of the veterans and contemplated their fate and how soon they would see combat. The new pilots asked question of the veteran pilots. One by one they were answered. Donald told me they clung to every word from the experienced pilots. One of the tricks they were told to try was to zigzag when an enemy fighter is zeroing in on your fighter from behind. Simple as it sounds, if you don't know it, you can die before can pick up on it. Even slowing down a little while doing this can cause the enemy to over shoot you and you could end up on the tail of the enemy!

After some brief training, Donald and others from the group were assigned to the 8^th Group’s 36th Squadron at Lowood Station and began training in the P-39D. Donald told me that is was in deed a shock to fly a full fledged fighter from scratch learning as they went only obtaining enough efficiency to classify as ready for combat. They were then ordered to Port Moresby, New Guinea.

On their first morning at Port Moresby, Donald participated in flying field cover patrol. His wingman was not able to take off so Donald flew with two other pilots. After two hours they turned toward their runway to be relieved by another flight. The first plane to land experienced fog and landed hard obstructing the runway for the others.

Pulling up, Donald climbed not wanting to be caught low should the enemy attack. At 3,500 feet, the airfield radioed him that they were under attack. With less than 20 gallons of gas, Donald banked around and saw a Zero attacking the airfield and pointed the nose of the P-39 down towards the Zero pulling onto the enemy’s tail. This was done by shear instinct because they had still very little time in tactic training.

It was now Donald told me that he looked seriously at the gun site on the dash in front of him. He did not even know how to turn it on or use it. Donald said he lined up the nose of his fighter with the tail of the Zero. Donald fired and his tracers went to the right of the Japanese aircraft. With both aircraft turning and banking at low level, Donald fired again with his tracers going under the Zero.  Adjusting his fire with the sights as best he could Donald was more pointing the nose of his fighter where here wanted to shoot. Donald centered the Zero and fired again.

The Zero shook, winged over heading down into the jungle.  Their altitude was just above the tops of the trees so Donald's P-39 swept over the Zero instantly. Donald saw the explosion of the Zero over his shoulder.  Suddenly tennis ball size tracers flashed by his cockpit. Donald looked around to see three Zero’s on his tail. The last minute training and advice Donald received saved him as he skirted back and forth avoiding the deadly fire form the enemy. None-the-less the Japanese pilots were experts with their machine-gun and cannon hitting Donald’s Airacobra and one enemy bullet going through his canopy almost hitting him. Donald said he did hear the bullet pass his head striking his leather helmet.

They were after Donald for shooting down their fellow pilot no doubt. They would not give up. Donald while flying his zigzag course took himself and the pursuing Zero's out over the ocean. The chase drug on Donald said but he was glad that he was still alive. Finally one by one the Zero’s turned away after exhausting their ammunition. Donald then turned back toward his base low on fuel. Unexpectedly Donald found his fighter was about 100 foot below and to the left of the last Zero. Apparently the Zero took a wide lazy circle back and wound up in the same air-space as Donald. The Japanese pilot could not see Donald down below and slightly behind him.

Donald told me that he froze. I mentioned that all he had to do was pull his fighters nose up a bit and fire into the bottom of the Zero. Donald told me that the thought did enter his mind but if he missed or botched up the attack he would have to fight this Zero all over again. As it was the Zero slowly crossed above and over Donald’s Airacobra and headed towards his base as Donald made a bee-line path back to his airfield

Donald was able to survey the damage on the airfield as he circled in for a landing. As Donald taxied in he ran out of gas. He held up his thumb signaling his kill to the others. The aerial victory was confirmed from many who witnessed the kill from the airbase.

Two 20mm shells had hit his rudder and five 7.7mm holes were in the right wing root. One bullet entered the top of his canopy and had shot his goggles off his head! Donald McGee had claimed the first victory for the 36th Fighter Squadron. Donald claimed two more confirmed enemy planes flying the P-39, and two more victories flying the P-38 to become an ace. He had a few more victories with the P-39 but the aircraft he hit was lost in the melee and no one witnessed the specific shoot down to each fighter in combat. Donald said he watched an enemy aircraft he damaged fly off towards the horizon back towards its base. Considering the Japanese was on fire one could determine the possibilities of its timely arrival. Ha! Ha! However, no one saw it go down! And Donald understood this, but he also knows what really happened.

Donald was later assigned to the European Theatre where he claimed his last victory over a Bf-109 flying a P-51. With six victories to his credit, Donald earned the Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, The Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre with one Silver Star.