Air Commodore Edward "Teddy" Mortlock Donaldson, (12 February 1912 – 2 June 1992) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) flying ace of the Second World War, and a former holder of the airspeed world record.

Early life Born in February 1912 in Negeri Sembilan, then part of British Malaya, his father C.E. Donaldson was a judge. One of four brothers, three of whom would serve as fighter pilots with the RAF and gain the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Educated in England at the King's School, Rochester and Christ's Hospital, he then studied at McGill University in Canada.

Donaldson joined two of his brothers in the RAF in 1931. Granted a short service commission, his first posting was to No. 3 Squadron flying Bristol Bulldog fighters. In 1932 Donaldson was runner up in the RAF Wakefield Boxing Championship, which he won the following year. In 1933 and 1934 he won the RAF's Gunnery Trophy One, known as the Brooke-Popham Air Firing Trophy. In 1935 he became a stunt pilot as a member of the No. 3 Squadron aerobatic team of five Bulldogs, which he led in 1937 and 1938 at the International Zürich Rally.

Second World War When the Second World War broke out, Squadron Leader Donaldson was commanding No. 151 Squadron flying the Hawker Hurricane. In their first engagement over France, they destroyed six enemy aircraft, shooting down many more in the following months including at the Battle of Dunkirk. For his leadership of the squadron during the battle and his personal tally of eleven kills, plus ten probable destructions, Donaldson was awarded the DSO.

In desperate need of pilots, the RAF chose to transfer Donaldson to the gunnery instructor school. In September 1941 he was awarded the Air Force Cross in recognition of his work as an instructor. Posted to Canada, Donaldson wrote an RAF training booklet titled Notes on Air Gunnery and Air Fighting. As liaison to the US Army Air Force, his booklet was replicated over 7,500 times, and helped teach USAAF gunnery instructors.

On his return to England in 1944, he converted to jet aircraft and commanded the first operational Gloster Meteor squadron, at RAF Colerne.

Postwar career During the Second World War, most of the pre-war airspeed records had been broken. The RAF decided to recapture the flight airspeed record with its new generation of jet aircraft, and set up a new High Speed Flight squadron. Donaldson, now a group captain, was selected to command the Air Speed Flight, established at the start of 1946. On 7 September 1946, he established a new official world record of in a Gloster Meteor F.4 over Littlehampton, although some unofficial Me 262 and Me 163 flights in the Second World War achieved higher speeds. As a result, he was awarded a Bar to his Air Force Cross.

During the early 1950s, Donaldson served in West Germany and commanded RAF Fassberg and RAF Wunstorf airfields, gaining appointment to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 1953, and advancement to air commodore in July 1955 after attending the Joint Services Staff College. From 1956 to 1958 he served as Deputy Commander of Air Forces in the Arabian Peninsula. On return to England, his final appointment was as Commandant of the RAF College, Manby.

Personal life Donaldson married Winifred Constant in 1936, and the couple had two daughters. After they were divorced in 1944, in the same year he married Estellee Holland, an American nurse, and the couple had one son, David.Estellee Donaldson obituary, legacy.com. Accessed 18 December 2022. After they divorced in 1954, he married Anne Sofie Stapleton in 1957, whom he divorced in 1982.

Later life Donaldson retired as an air commodore in 1961, and became the Air Correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, until 1979. He was a keen yachtsman owning a yacht which he kept in Gosport Marina. He retired to his home in Selsey, and died at the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar on 6 June 1992. Donaldson is buried at St Andrew's Church, Tangmere.

Memorial Donaldson's "Star" Meteor is on display at the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, together with that of later 1953 record holder, Squadron Leader Neville Duke, who flew a Hawker Hunter at .

Donaldson was brought up at 86 Grafton Road, Selsey, where during 2000 a blue plaque was placed as part of the Selsey Heritage trail.

Donaldson's medals and flight books were sold at auction for £4,800 in June 2004.

Service history DateNotes26 June 1931Appointed to a Short Service Commission. Initial Officer Training, RAF Depot11 July 1931U/T Pilot, No 2 FTS20 June 1932Pilot, No 3 Sqn.23 April 1936Supernumerary, RAF Depot.22 March 1937Act Officer Commanding, No 72 Sqn.26 July 1937Flight Commander, No 1 Sqn.1937Recommended for AFC, turned down29 March 1938Granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant5 May 1938Attended Instructor's Course, Central Flying School. (graded B)Aug 1938QFI, No 7 FTS.14 November 1938Officer Commanding, No 151 Sqn.5 August 1940CFI, No 5 FTS.UnknownOfficer Commanding, ? School1 Jun 1941Mentioned in Dispatches30 September 1941Awarded AFC1941Liaison Officer, USAAF (USA)UnknownSupernumerary, Polish Wing, RAF NortholtUnknownGroup Captain, Fighter Control Unit, 2nd TAF.1944Attended Empire Central Flying SchoolUnknownOfficer Commanding, RAF ColerneUnknownOfficer Commanding RAF MilfieldJul 1946Officer Commanding, RAF High Speed Flight7 September 1946Breaks Flight airspeed record, reaching in a Gloster Meteor F Mk4 over Littlehampton.1947SASO, HQ No 12 Group12 June 1947Awarded AFC Bar15 February 1949Awarded Legion of Merit, USA1951Officer Commanding, RAF FassbergUnknownOfficer Commanding, RAF Wunstorf1 June 1953Awarded CBE16 April 1954Director of Operational Training11 December 1956Deputy Commander, HQ British Forces, Arabian Peninsula12 November 1958AOC/Commandant, RAF Flying College1 January 1960Awarded Companion of the Bath in New Year Honours21 March 1961Retired

Combat record The following table is not complete in numbers or detail. DateServiceFlyingKillsProbablesNotes17 May 1940Royal Air ForceHurricane2 * Junkers Ju 871 * Junkers Ju 8750miles east of Valenciennes18 May 1940Royal Air ForceHurricane1 * Messerschmitt Bf 110Over Vitry-en-Artois airfield22 May 1940Royal Air ForceHurricane1 * Junkers Ju 871 * Junkers Ju 87Over Merville29 May 1940Royal Air ForceHurricane1/2 * Junkers Ju 8830 May 1940Royal Air ForceHurricane1 * Junkers Ju 88Gazetted for DSO1 June 1940Royal Air ForceHurricane1 * Messerschmitt Bf 110Battle of Dunkirk2 June 1940Royal Air ForceHurricaneSquadron moved from France to RAF Tangmere27 June 1940Royal Air ForceHurricaneOn return from France protecting squadron of Basil Embry, shot down over English Channel12 July 1940Royal Air ForceHurricaneCommencement of the Battle of Britain. Shot down over England by Dornier Do 17, lands RAF Martlesham Heath14 July 1940Royal Air ForceHurricane1 * Messerschmitt Bf 109Over Dover Straits26 July 1940Royal Air ForceHurricaneFinal flight of Battle of Britain27 July 1940Royal Air ForceGiven leave, on return posted to No. 5 F.T.S. as Chief Flying InstructorTOTALS5.5 kills4 probable

References

Further reading Thomas, Nick. (2008). RAF Top Gun: The Story of Battle of Britain Ace and World Air Speed Record Holder Air Cdre E.M. 'Teddy' Donaldson CB, CBE, DSO, AFC*. LoM (USA) Pen & Sword Books