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MacKenzie, Kenneth William

Date of birth:
June 8th, 1916 (Belfast/Northern Ireland, Great Britain)
Date of death:
June 4th, 2009
Service number:
745455/84017
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

After the Second World War received the Air Force Cross.

Promotions:
1939: Airman;
?: Sergeant;
August 31st, 1940: Pilot Officer on probation (seniority August 24th 1940);
August 31st, 1941: Pilot Officer;
August 31st, 1941: Flying Officer (war subs. seniority August 24th 1941);
august 31st, 1942: Flight Lieutenant (war subs. seniority August 24th, 1942);
February 21st, 1946: Flight Lieutenant (seniority January 1st, 1943);
August 1st, 1947: Squadron Leader (war subs.);
June 22nd, 1948: Squadron Leader.

Career:
?: Methodist College;
?: Apprenticeship Harland & Wolff;
?: Queen's University;
1939: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve;
October 1940: No. 501 Squadron;
June 1941: Flight Commander No. 247 Squadron;
September 29th, 1941: POW;
?: Oflag VIB, Warburg;
?: Stalag Luft III, Sagan;
October 1944: England;
?: Instructor;
July 1952: Commanding Officer/Chief Instructor Meteor Fighter wing, Stradishall;
? - April 1970: Deputy Commander Zambian Air Force;
? - 1973: Managing Director Air Kenya.

Victories:
?; Messerschmitt Bf 109;
?: Messerschmitt Bf 109 (damaged);
October 7th, 1940: Messerschmitt Bf 109 (shared);
October 7th, 1940: Messerschmitt Bf 109;
October 25th, 1940: Messerschmitt Bf 109;
October 25th, 1945: Messerschmitt Bf 109 (shared);
?: enemy fighter;
?: enemy fighter;
?: enemy fighter;
July 6th, 1941: Junker Ju 88;
?: Heinkel He 111.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Pilot Officer
Unit:
No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
October 25th, 1940
Citation:
"Early in October, 1940, whilst on patrol, this officer sighted a formation of eight Messerschmitt 109's. He attacked and damaged one of them which dived to sea level. Having expended all his ammunition, Pilot Officer McKenzie flew alongside the hostile aircraft and endeavoured unsuccessfully to force the enemy into the sea. Undeterred he severed the tail-plane of the Messerschmitt with his wing tip. Subsequently he was attacked by a number of Messerschmitt 109's, and although his aircraft was severely damaged he succeeded in reaching land and made a crash landing. In one week, Pilot Officer McKenzie has destroyed five enemy aircraft.
His skill and gallantry have been of the highest order."

LG 34978/6194.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Sources

  • Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
  • - The London Gazette of 20th September 1940, Issue 34949
    - The London Gazette of 25th October 1940, Issue 34978
    - The London Gazette of 23rd September 1941, Issue 35283
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 13th October 1942, Issue 35747, dated 16th October 1942
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 22nd November 1946, Issue 37797, dated 26th November 1946
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 25th February 1947, Issue 37892, dated 28th February 1947
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 1st August 1947, Issue 38035, dated 5th August 1947
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 12th November 1948, Issue 38456, dated 16th November 1948
    - Battle of Britain London Monument

Photo

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