Episode Details
Back to EpisodesEpisode 106 – Don Mackenzie AFC
Published 9 years, 7 months ago
Description
Guest: Don Mackenzie
Hosts: Dave Homewood
Recorded: 2nd of September 2009
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes 39 seconds
In this episode Dave Homewood has delved into his archive and pulled out one of his 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.
Don passed away on December 27th, 2013, following a short illness.
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