ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Military and Veterans honored a St. Charles aviator who died in his war plane over the English Channel in 1942. The body of At Donahue was never recovered, but his legacy has endured through two books he wrote about his aviation experience. Donahue grew up on a St. Charles farm and learned to fly from legendary Winona aviator Max Conrad. He became Minnesota’s youngest commercial pilot at age 19. In 1940 Donahue went to Canada, claimed to be Canadian, and enlisted in the British Royal Air Force. He flew missions during the Battle of Britain — one of only 11 Americans who flew for the Royal Air Force.
Donahue. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. His name is on the Battle of Britain Monument in London.