Alexander Angus McDonell, Jr. enlisted as Aviation Cadet in March 1943, he received his pilot's wings and commission in December. In April 1944 he went overseas as co-pilot of a B-17, and was stationed in England with the 388th Bombardment Squadron, Eighth Air Force. It was after several pre-invasion bombings that he lost his life on active duty.

2Lt McDonell was killed in a crash landing on June 20, 1944, when returning from a bombing mission to Magdeburg. He was declared "Missing in Action" on June 20, 1944 and is commemorated on the Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov