Evan Mackie
Encyclopedia
Wing Commander
Evan "Rosie" Mackie, DSO
, DFC & Bar
, was a New Zealand
fighter pilot and ace
of the Second World War.
Many New Zealand pilots who served overseas enlisted in the RAF; Mackie chose to join the RNZAF and as such he was the highest scoring member of that service.
Born in October 1917, 'Rosie', (so named when in the RAF because of his ruddy complexion) trained as an electrician before the war. Mackie joined the RNZAF in January 1941, and on completion of flying training was posted to the No 485 (NZ) Squadron in the UK in early 1942. In March 1943 he was posted to North Africa, to No. 243 Squadron, flying the Spitfire Mk V. He was shot down over Pont du Fahs area on 24 April, but returned on foot to Allied lines the next day. He was awarded the DFC in May, and achieved success in combat through April- October 1943. A JG 77 Bf 109 was claimed on 4 July, and Bf 109 of JG 53 on 5 July, while 2 Italian-flown Junkers Ju 87
of 121 Gruppo and a Reggiane Re 2002 of 5 Stormo were shot down on 13 July. In November he was posted to command No. 92 Squadron
, returning, tour-expired, to the UK in February 1944.
He then joined 274 Squadron flying the Hawker Tempest
in December 1944, before commanding No 80 Squadron, and then becoming No. 122 Wing Leader, in April 1945.
Mackie scored 20 air victories, as well as 3 shared kills, 2 probables, 10 damaged and 1 shared damaged, with 3 destroyed and 2 shared destroyed on the ground during the war. Of this final total, 12 kills, three shared destroyed, two probably destroyed, seven damaged and one shared damaged, was achieved while flying the Spitfire Mark V
and Mark VIII. Mackie was also credited with 6.5 kills in the Hawker Tempest
.
Following the war Mackie declined roles in the military, preferring to return home to New Zealand and continue his career as an electrician, eventually becoming Chief Inspector for the Tauranga Power Board. Shortly before he died in 1986 he was interviewed extensively by Max Avery who subsequently, with the assistance of Christopher Shores, published a biography "Spitfire Leader" focusing mostly on his military service.
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Evan "Rosie" Mackie, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, DFC & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
fighter pilot and ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
of the Second World War.
Many New Zealand pilots who served overseas enlisted in the RAF; Mackie chose to join the RNZAF and as such he was the highest scoring member of that service.
Born in October 1917, 'Rosie', (so named when in the RAF because of his ruddy complexion) trained as an electrician before the war. Mackie joined the RNZAF in January 1941, and on completion of flying training was posted to the No 485 (NZ) Squadron in the UK in early 1942. In March 1943 he was posted to North Africa, to No. 243 Squadron, flying the Spitfire Mk V. He was shot down over Pont du Fahs area on 24 April, but returned on foot to Allied lines the next day. He was awarded the DFC in May, and achieved success in combat through April- October 1943. A JG 77 Bf 109 was claimed on 4 July, and Bf 109 of JG 53 on 5 July, while 2 Italian-flown Junkers Ju 87
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
of 121 Gruppo and a Reggiane Re 2002 of 5 Stormo were shot down on 13 July. In November he was posted to command No. 92 Squadron
No. 92 Squadron RAF
No. 92 Squadron, also known as No 92 Squadron, of the Royal Air Force was formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps at London Colney as a fighter squadron on 1 September 1917. It deployed to France in July 1918 and saw action for just four months, until the end of the war. During the conflict it...
, returning, tour-expired, to the UK in February 1944.
He then joined 274 Squadron flying the Hawker Tempest
Hawker Tempest
The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
in December 1944, before commanding No 80 Squadron, and then becoming No. 122 Wing Leader, in April 1945.
Mackie scored 20 air victories, as well as 3 shared kills, 2 probables, 10 damaged and 1 shared damaged, with 3 destroyed and 2 shared destroyed on the ground during the war. Of this final total, 12 kills, three shared destroyed, two probably destroyed, seven damaged and one shared damaged, was achieved while flying the Spitfire Mark V
Supermarine Spitfire (early Merlin powered variants)
The British Supermarine Spitfire was the only fighter aircraft of the Second World War to fight in front line service, from the beginnings of the conflict, in September 1939, through to the end in August 1945. Post-war the Spitfire's service career continued into the 1950s...
and Mark VIII. Mackie was also credited with 6.5 kills in the Hawker Tempest
Hawker Tempest
The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
.
Following the war Mackie declined roles in the military, preferring to return home to New Zealand and continue his career as an electrician, eventually becoming Chief Inspector for the Tauranga Power Board. Shortly before he died in 1986 he was interviewed extensively by Max Avery who subsequently, with the assistance of Christopher Shores, published a biography "Spitfire Leader" focusing mostly on his military service.