Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association, F A A O A

Lt Cdr Donald Brian Milner Fiddes DSO RN (CO 1830 NAS - see post earlier today)

Donald joined the RN from Radley College, as a Seaman Officer in 1934 on a Special Entry age 17. He served as a cadet in HMS Frobisher, and won the King's Dirk and the Eardley Howard Crockett Prize in 1936. After serving as Midshipman in HMS Resolution, he continued training onboard HMS Royal Sovereign, before being promoted to Sub Lieutenant and was appointed to the Tribal-class destroyer HMS Afridi. She was serving in the Mediterranean Fleet, and briefly involved in an Arms Blockade during the Spanish Civil War, before being assigned to the Home Fleet for Convoy Protection, and played an active part in the Norwegian Campaign.

Promoted to Lieutenant in 1940, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for 'bravery and outstanding resolution when an important convoy was fought through to Malta in face of attacks by day and night from enemy submarines, aircraft and surface forces.' HMS Afridi was sunk on 2 May 1940, whilst evacuating the last troops from Norway she was attacked by Ju87 Stukas and hit by two bombs whist 150nms WNW of Vega Island. Fifty-three of her crew, along with 13 soldiers and 35 rescued crewmen from HMS Bison who were onboard were lost that day (casualty assessments vary)

I have yet to find details of his flying training. He must have progressed quickly as he took command of 762 NAS on 9 Sept 1942. This was an Advanced Flying Training School that had just relocated from to RNAS Yeovilton from RNAS St Merryn in Cornwall. He was promoted Acting Lieutenant Commander and left in March 1943, and joined personnel at Lee-on-Solent, for passage to the States, and conversion onto Corsair Mk.1s.

1830 NAS left the States in October for passage home onboard the es**rt carrier HMS Slinger, and disembarked to RNAY Belfast on 1 November. On 8 December the squadron flew the short distance to RNAS Machrihanish, before embarking in HMS Illustrious the following day. There were four landing accidents in the first four weeks. On 12 December Donald was flying JT237, when he missed all the arrester wires but failed to open the throttle enough to go around again. The aircraft's port wingtip clipped the deck and the aircraft avoided hitting the island but went over the side and into the sea. He was not recovered. RIP

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