Constable, Donald Frank (Flight Lieutenant, b.1919 - d.1944)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 409383 Flight Lieutenant Donald Frank Constable, 78 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia and the United Kingdom, 1941-1956.

Wallet 1 of 2 – Consists of two folders of correspondence from Flight Lieutenant Constable to his family.

Wallet 1 of 2, Folder 1 of 2 contains 21 letters and 9 telegrams from Flight Lieutenant Constable to his family, dated between c September 1941 and c December 1942. The correspondence covers the period of his pilot training in Australia, embarkation, and arrival in England for further training. In his letters, Flight Lieutenant Constable writes about having a new commanding officer at his flying training school, doing exams, receiving parcels from home, having a week of holidays, learning aerobatics and cross country flying, arrangements for his wing parade, receiving his exam results, receiving his posting, embarkation, life on board the ship, participating in concerts on board the ship, hearing news of the war, church services, having leave in London and the English countryside, and seeing a film at the cinema. He also responds to news from home and sends his best wishes for birthdays and Christmas.

Wallet 1 of 2, Folder 2 of 2 contains 30 letters, 11 telegrams and one Christmas card from Flight Lieutenant Constable to his family, dated between 11 January 1943 and 30 June 1944. The correspondence covers the period of his operational training and service with 78 Squadron in the United Kingdom. In his letters, Flight Lieutenant Constable writes about receiving parcels and letters from home, visiting friends, hearing news of the war, seeing films in the cinema, being the shortest pilot in the squadron, being promoted to flight lieutenant, playing golf and basketball, good relationships between Australian and New Zealand airmen, rainy English weather, flying Airspeed Oxford aircraft, visiting London while on leave, doing his final operational training in Scotland, feeling the responsibility of having a crew, appreciating the Scottish countryside, learning about the different jobs of each crewmember, cross country flights, meeting friends at the Boomerang Club, hearing of friends who had died, flying Handley Page Halifax aircraft, getting along well with his crew, serving on bombing operations over Germany, receiving his commission, appreciating home, participating in an interactive show in London, flying over the Alps at night, being hosted by a local family for Christmas, being quoted in a newspaper, and losing his wireless operator. He also responds to news from home.

Wallet 2 of 2 – Consists of three folders of correspondence, papers, and newspaper clippings relating to Flight Lieutenant Constable.

Wallet 2 of 2, Folder 1 of 3 contains 21 items of official correspondence and documentation relating to the service, death, award of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and burial of Flight Lieutenant Constable. These items are dated between c August 1941 and August 1951.

Wallet 2 of 2, Folder 2 of 3 contains 2 general letters and 18 letters of condolence from various friends to Flight Lieutenant Constable’s parents, Harry and Dorothy Constable. These letters are dated between 17 February [1944] and 2 January 1956.

Wallet 2 of 2, Folder 3 of 3 contains 12 newspaper clippings relating to the service and death of Flight Lieutenant Constable.

Oversize Item – Consists of one certificate commemorating the appointment of Flight Lieutenant Constable as an officer of the Citizen Air Force of the Commonwealth, dated 1 September 1944.

Flight Lieutenant Donald Frank Constable enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 15 August 1941. He trained as a pilot in Australia and the United Kingdom, and went on to serve with 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force. With this unit, he piloted Handley Page Halifax aircraft in bombing operations targeting Germany. In March 1944, Flight Lieutenant Constable was on a mission to Stuttgart, Germany, when he was attacked by an enemy fighter and sustained damage to his aircraft. However, he successfully continued the operation. For this action, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 24 March 1944, Flight Lieutenant Constable was returning from an operation over Berlin, Germany, when an enemy fighter attacked his aircraft and set the fuel tanks on fire. The aircraft crashed, and Flight Lieutenant Constable, alongside 5 other members of his crew, was killed. They are buried at Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany.