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This Remembrance Profile was originally created by CMSgt Don Skinner - Deceased
Contact Info
Home Town Seagraves
Last Address Biggs AAFB, Texas
Date of Passing Jun 21, 1944
Location of Interment Gaines County Cemetery - Seagraves, Texas
Lea Ola McDonald was born on October 12, 1921 in Hollywood, Arkansas. She moved to a farm near Seagraves, Texas where she was raised with her brother. She graduated from Plainview High School in 1938, then attended Wayland Baptist College for two years where she learned to fly in the CPT program. After that, she moved to Canyon, Texas to attend West Texas State College, graduating in 1942.
She then moved to California where she worked in a Douglas Aircraft Company factory. While there, she heard of the WASP and applied. She was accepted and took her basic training at the Houston Municipal Airport, Houston, Texas. She completed the course and was assigned to Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas in Class 44-W-3. She graduated in April 1944, and was sent to Biggs AAFB, Texas on active duty.
She flew a number of planes in training, including the B-24, B-26, At -11, and the A-24B, the Army version of the Douglas "Dauntless" dive bomber. On June 21, 1944, while on a training flight in the B-24B, she crashed approximately 3 miles east of Biggs AAFB. The accident investigation report merely stated "due to mechanical failure." One account states this was her first solo in the B-24B, and that she crashed on landing.
Her body was recovered and she was escorted to Seagraves, Texas by military escort where she was buried in the Gaines County Cemetery.
Lea O. McDonald was flying RA-24B # 42-54423 on her fatal flight. She had been assigned to Biggs AAFB at El Paso, Texas since April 1944. In that short time, she had flown several different types of aircraft.
Although usually accorded the privileges of a 2nd Lieutenant, WASP had no actual military rank. They were assigned to Civil Service. Paid $150 per month in training, and $250 per month when assigned to active duty, they had to pay for their own food, lodging, and uniforms. They received no travel pay or any other compensation.
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed Public Law 95-202 that recognized veteran status for WASP. Veteran benefits such as the G.I. Bill now became available. In 1984, more benefits were given, and all WASP received the World War 2 Victory Medal. Those who had served more than 1 year received the American Campaign Medal.
In 2010, the WASP were recognized, individually and as a unit, by the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal.
1943-1944, AT-11 Kansan
From Year 1943
To Year 1944
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
AT-11 Kansan Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
The Model 18 Twin Beech twin-engine aircraft were designed by Beech as a response to global tension in the late 1930s. After the prototype took flight in 1937, China issued a order amounting to $750,000 to convert these aircraft into light bombers, but only 39 were delivered by the time China entered WW2 in Jul 1937. As the United States geared for war, the Model 18 design were built as US Army AT-7 Navigator, AT-11 Kansan, and C-45 Expeditor aircraft and US Navy SNB Kansan, JRB Kansan, and UC-45 Expeditor Navigator aircraft. They were used as transports or trainers. After the war, the US Air Force kept C-45 aircraft in use until 1963, Navy SNB aircraft until 1972, and US Army C-45 aircraft until 1976. The production of the Model 18 aircraft did not stop until 1970, with the last model exported to Japan Airlines, making the design the longest continuous production of a piston engine aircraft; a total of nearly 8,000 were built during the production life. In addition to the production record, Model 18 also held the most US Federal Aviation Administration-approved Supplemental Type Certificates of any aircraft design (over 200), making it the most modified American aircraft. In the civilian world, they were used for a wide variety of functions, including pesticide spraying, fish seeding, firefighting, ambulance service, and cargo and passenger transportation.