F/Lt R W MacMillan

[zaphod42]

Rod MacMillan was born in Timaru on the 2nd of October 1918. The information I have on him so far is that he joined the RNZAF on the 1st of December 1940 and served with 488 squadron in Singapore flying Buffaloes up until the 26th of January 1942, at which time he was, according the the book Buffaloes over Singapore, a Sergeant.

The online NZETC site has him as reaching the rank of F/Lt. (see here)

I can't find any information about Rod after this in the sources I have access to (Buffaloes over Singapore, the Internet).

I want to do a model of his Buffalo that is mentioned in the book, NF-X W8186, but would like to do some further research about him, if possible, my interest being that I come from Timaru.

Can anyone here help me in my quest for knowledge?

[errolmartyn]

NZ404914 Roderick William Macmillan was appointed to a commission as a pilot officer dated 1 Feb 43 (from Flt Sgt) and posted to the Reserve on 2 Jul 45 as a flight lieutenant. he died in 2005.

Errol

[zaphod42]

Thanks Errol for the quick reply

Do you know where he went after the war? Where was he when he passed away? Where did your information come from and can you advise me as to where I might research more?

Regards,
Tony.

[errolmartyn]

Tony,

Macmillan was cremated, ashes buried at North Shore Memorial park (Schnapper Rock). You can work out his exact date of death by conducting a search online at the NZ BDM website. That should then lead you to a death notice (NZ Herald?), should you wish to check for next of kin.

To obtain a free photocopy of papers that survive on his RNZAF service record see www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/nzdf-archives/

Also, you might be able to make contact with relatives through the 'Lost Trails' columns of the quarterly magazine of the Returned Services Association - 'RSA Review'. There is no charge for placing a notice in the column. Write to the editor at [e-mail]

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

He died on the 5th of August 2005, if that helps.

[Dave Homewood]

Archives New Zealand has a listing for a Roderick William MacMillan for Auckland Education salary cards dating from 1937 to 1977, so if this is the same man perhaps he became a teacher?

[zaphod42]

You guys rock! Thank you so much for the great information you have managed to gather for me - where do I send the cheque?

The suggestions you have made I thank you for too and will add it to the armoury for this and further research.

Kind regards,
Tony.

[buffnut453]

If anyone does make contact with the MacMillan's relatives, I'd be most interested in learning more. As a student of Buffalo operations in Malaya and Singapore, I'd love to add some additional info about 488 Sqn to my knowledgebase...if his relatives have any of his wartime records.

Kind regards,
Mark Haselden

[vernon]

RW MacMillan was Headmaster at Westlake Boys High School on Auckland's North Shore when I was there in the 1970's. He retired at the end of 1976 and I think served on the local borough council. He was a very formidable personality and highly respected as Headmaster. He and his wife Bev lived in Parklane retirement village until he succumbed to cancer in 2005. I recall he flew Corsairs in the Pacific. A photo of him appears on page 64 of RNZAF A Short History. I don't recall any offspring but will check if Bev is still with us. V.

[buffnut453]

Thanks Vernon. Very much appreciated.

Cheers,
Mark

[zaphod42]

Thank you for the information Vernon. Now to find a copy of the book  (found it $20 from abebooks )