Lt. (JG) Donald Cecil Kane was born on March 29, 1918, in Wyandotte, Michigan, to Turney Kane and Mary Helen Bell-Kane and had a brother. The family moved to Oak Park, Illinois, where he attended Oak Park School. They then moved to 744 Portsmouth Avenue, Westchester, Illinois, where he graduated from Grant School. He then graduated from Proviso Township High School in 1935. After high school, he attended Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, and majored in music and joined the United States Naval Reserve. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, in 1939, in music. He then became a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. The orchestra trained musicians to perform in professional orchestras.
When the Selective Service Act took effect on October 16, 1940, he registered for the draft and named his mother as his contact person. He was called to active duty on March 19, 1942, and had the serial number 129975. In no particular order, he trained as a Naval pilot at Glenview Naval Air Station, Illinois, Dallas Naval Air Station, Texas, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida, Miami Naval Air Station, Florida, Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station, Florida, and Norfolk Naval Air Station, Virginia. He qualified as pilot and flew a TBF-1C Grumman Avenger.
He was sent to the Pacific Theater and assigned to the USS Essex as a TBF-1C torpedo bomber pilot. His plane number was 23991 with the Engine Number was 24831. The members of his crew were AMM2c Charles A. Chalman and AMM2c Dick A. Arlington. His plane was assigned to VT 9. VT was a Naval designation for torpedo squadron.
It was during the initial attack on the Truk Lagoon on February 16, 1944, that his plane was reported missing. According to records, his plane was taking part on the attack on Eten Anchorage, Truk Atoll, and was last reported over the target area in a glide. It was believed that his plane was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and went down in the lagoon. Donald, Chalman, and Arlington were officially declared dead on January 15, 1946.
Lt(JG) Donald C. Kane’s, along with the names of the other two members of his crew, was placed on the Walls of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery, Manila, Philippine Islands. He received the Air Medal with Gold Star, and Purple Heart posthumously.
