Personnel Index - Detail

Name
MCDOUGALL
First Names
Frederick Cook
Nationality
Scottish
Rank
F/Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
1372719
Crew Position
Air Gunner
Posting In
6/44
Posting Out
8/44

 

Flew 24 operations with 49Sqn.

Additional information from David E Booker, grandson of Flt Sgt Frederick Cook McDougall:
From his Observer's and Air Gunner's Flying Log Book, I can see that my grandfather’s first operation for 49 Squadron took place on 11 June 1944 and his last on 25 August 1944.
Prior to his transfer to 49 Squadron, whilst serving with 29 Operational Training Unit at RAF North Luffenham, my grandfather became the sole survivor of a Wellington bomber crash; the remaining crew of Wellington MK III BK390 were killed. 
This incident is commemorated on a memorial in the village of Coates, near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire. 
Also during his time with 29 OTU, my grandfather flew with William Reid VC; eulogised in this article printed in The Scotsman of 29 November 2001.

Additional recollections from Geoff Easterling, the MuG:
F/Sgt McDougall, had been there and done it before. He had not done a previous tour but we gather had been flying for a while, had previously crashed at O.T.U. He was not a man to take chances, he knew guns inside out and his knowledge of tactics was well above average. He knew when to call a Corkscrew; he was always calm and kept his turret a lot tidier than he kept his 'bed space' or I kept mine. His turret always had spotless Perspex.

Additional details from Ed Norman, 49 Squadron Archivist:
Our records show that he completed 24 operations with 49 Squadron before the crew were posted to No.44 Squadron.
No.44 had suffered heavy losses and its numbers were replenished with experienced crews from surrounding squadrons.