John Walter McKenzie

[Dave Homewood]

One of the airmen on my Wings Over Cambridge website is fighter pilot John Walter McKenzie (NZ412077, 1st of June 1917 to 12th of August 1999).

He was born in Cambridge, but other than that and his Mentioned In Despatches citation, I really know nothing more about his life and his career in the RNZAF.

I have now been approached by Christian Dieppedalle from Normandy in France wanting to know about John McKenzie as he crash-landed at Christian's village in 1944. The village commemorates airmen connected with them on a website and through booklets, and he says they want to write a little booklet about this pilot.

I would also like to learn more about him for my own website. Does anyone have information about this No. 1 Squadron RAF Spitfire pilot?

Here is the little I have on my site:
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/John%20McKenzie.htm

[errolmartyn]

Dave,
Some notes compiled by Colin Hanson and me some years ago:

Allied Expeditionary Air Force – 1 Squadron, RAF (Detling, Kent)
Spitfire IX MK744 JX-?
McKENZIE, Flying Officer John Walter, mid. (Evader)
NZ412077. Born Cambridge, 1 Jun 1917. RNZAF 24 May 1941 to 6 Oct 1945.
Pilot. Shot down 17 Aug 1944 with 1 Sqn RAF (Spitfire) while escorting Mitchell aircraft bombing targets in Foret de Domaniale Bretonne. Crashed nr Tretot [Yvetot?]. Safe UK 6 Sep 1944.

The formation commander reported as follows: "W/O McKenzie, New Zealand, took off from RAF Station Detling at 1515 hours on 17th August on Ramrod 1211. Wing Commander Powell leading 1 and 165 Squadrons as escorts to two sections of Mitchells bombing targets in Foret de Bretonne. The bombers flew in loose formation and due to heavy intense flak from target they split up shortly after bombing so that effective fighter cover over an area of about 12 miles was rendered difficult. Yellow Section with W/O McKenzie flying as Yellow 2 were covering the rear at 14,000 ft. I with my Red Section, was in the middle of the formation when I saw a gaggle of aircraft coming in behind. I immediately called up warning Yellow Section which broke, but not quickly enough, and they were bounced by 4 FW 190s. W/O McKenzie was hit and went down, force-landing north-west of Tretot. Shortly after he called up saying his aircraft was badly damaged but he was OK and had the situation well in hand. Visibility at the time was about 20 miles with 4/10 cloud at 3,000 feet. Haze at 14,000 ft. clear below."

MI-9 recorded: "On 17 Aug 44 I took off from Detling in a Spitfire Mk IXB and made a crash landing on the same day near Baudeville [?]. The aircraft was completely destroyed. I walked about eight miles and called at a farm house. These farm people took me to the village where I was hidden and fed me for 16 days until 2 Sep. My helpers were not directly connected with the Resistance group, but were members of the FFI. On 2 Sep, when the British Army arrived, I was motored to Rouen, whence I was taken in an Army truck to Elbeuf. From there I was taken by the Army to 84 Group, TAF Headquarters near Brionne. On the next day (3 Sep) I was transported to a village near Bayeux, where I spent two nights. On 5 Sep I returned to the UK.”

Cheers,
Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Errol!!