Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 8, 2016 18:29:49 GMT 12
In this episode I have delved into my archive and pulled out one of my early interviews from back in September 2009 with the late Flight Lieutenant Donald Malcolm Mackenzie AFC, mid, RNZAF, retired (NZ401776) of Hamilton.
Don joined the RNZAF on the 2nd of July 1940, and was on the third pilot’s War Course learning to fly on Tiger Moths and Vildebeest, before he was posted to Singapore in early 1941. Following several months there with No. 100 Squadron RAF he was then posted to Ceylon in July 1941 where he flew operational coastal patrols in Vickers Vildebeests and Fairey Seals. He also sometimes patrolled in borrowed Fairey Swordfish and Fairy Fulmars.
Don was at Ceylon when the aircraft of five Japanese aircraft carriers attacked the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force bases on the 25th of April 1942.
He was later posted to No. 22 Ferry Control Unit as a test pilot for aircraft following major servicing and repairs, and as a ferry pilot, which took him all over India and Burma.
Later Don was posted to London, England, and joined the Metropolitan Communications Flight of No. 510 Squadron based at Hendon, which was a VIP transport unit.
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2016/07/don-mackenzie/
Don joined the RNZAF on the 2nd of July 1940, and was on the third pilot’s War Course learning to fly on Tiger Moths and Vildebeest, before he was posted to Singapore in early 1941. Following several months there with No. 100 Squadron RAF he was then posted to Ceylon in July 1941 where he flew operational coastal patrols in Vickers Vildebeests and Fairey Seals. He also sometimes patrolled in borrowed Fairey Swordfish and Fairy Fulmars.
Don was at Ceylon when the aircraft of five Japanese aircraft carriers attacked the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force bases on the 25th of April 1942.
He was later posted to No. 22 Ferry Control Unit as a test pilot for aircraft following major servicing and repairs, and as a ferry pilot, which took him all over India and Burma.
Later Don was posted to London, England, and joined the Metropolitan Communications Flight of No. 510 Squadron based at Hendon, which was a VIP transport unit.
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2016/07/don-mackenzie/
