Arthur McDonald

Air Marshal Sir Arthur William Baynes McDonald, (14 June 1903 – 26 July 1996) was a senior Royal Air Force officer. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Pakistan Air Force from 1955 to 1957.

Early life Arthur McDonald was born on 14 June 1903 in either South Africa or Antigua. His father, William MacLachlan McDonald, was a British Army doctor who had served in the Second Boer Warl; his mother Hilda McDonald (née Edwards) was a poet and the first female member of the Antiguan House of Assembly. He grew up on the Caribbean islands of Saint Kitts and Antigua, then members of the British West Indies. He studied arts at Peterhouse, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree. His commission and rank were confirmed on 15 September 1924. He was promoted to flying officer on 15 October 1925. On 1 September 1928, he was granted a permanent commission. He was promoted to flight lieutenant on 13 October 1929.

McDonald was appointed Officer Commanding No. 79 Squadron and then Officer Commanding No. 32 Squadron in 1937.

McDonald's last appointments were as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Technical Training Command in 1958 and as Air Member for Personnel in 1959 before retiring in 1962. He later became Admiral of the RAF Sailing Association. He died on 26 July 1996, aged 93.