37 Facts About Evan Mackie

Evan Mackie initially trained at Whenuapai before going onto further flight training in Canada.

Evan Mackie then proceeded to the United Kingdom where he converted to the Supermarine Spitfire and after completing his course, he served as an instructor.

Evan Mackie was posted to No 485 Squadron with which he achieved his first aerial victories on the Channel Front.

Evan Mackie was transferred away from the squadron as punishment for condoning the misappropriation of a vehicle by his staff.

Evan Dall Mackie was born in Waihi, New Zealand, on 31 October 1917, one of five children of Thomas Mackie, an engine driver, and his wife Katherine Mackie.

Evan Mackie attended Waihi East Primary School and from 1931, Waihi District High School.

Evan Mackie began studying part-time at the Waihi School of Mines from 1934, doing two hours most evenings after his work.

Evan Mackie did well in the course and this led to his application in May 1940 to join the RNZAF.

Evan Mackie successfully completed the educational requirements and formally entered the RNZAF in January 1941 with the rank of leading aircraftman.

At No 32 Service Flying Training School, based at Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, Evan Mackie flew North American Harvards.

Evan Mackie was sent to No 58 Operational Training Unit at Grangemouth to learn to fly the Supermarine Spitfire fighter.

Evan Mackie later regarded the extra flying time that this gave him on Spitfires as advantageous when he began his operational flying.

Evan Mackie flew in a flight led by Bill Crawford-Compton, who led it in pursuit of four Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters sighted as the squadron neared the Belgian coast.

Evan Mackie expended his ammunition without success in the resulting encounter although Crawford-Compton destroyed one Bf 109.

Evan Mackie's Spitfire was hit by flak in the port wing while crossing the French coast on the return flight to Kenley but he returned to base safely.

Evan Mackie, who had been promoted to flying officer earlier in the month, only encountered the Luftwaffe during the first of these patrols, during which his Spitfire was lightly damaged by machine-gun fire.

Evan Mackie has destroyed 5 enemy aircraft, 4 of them within a period of eleven days in April, 1943.

Evan Mackie pursued one of these, fired on it, and saw it go down in a smoking dive.

Evan Mackie shot down two of them, one of five that was claimed as destroyed by his squadron that day, damaged another Ju 87, and on a subsequent patrol destroyed a Reggiane Re.

On reaching England, Evan Mackie was posted to Bentley Priory, the headquarters of Air Defence of Great Britain, formerly Fighter Command, where he took up a training role.

Evan Mackie was responsible for communicating training directives to the various RAF instructing establishments around the country.

Evan Mackie had earlier in the month undergone a conversion course on the Hawker Tempest, with which the wing was equipped.

Evan Mackie initially flew with No 3 Squadron and then No 274 Squadron.

On Christmas Eve, Evan Mackie shot down an Fw 190 over the Malmedy area; the pilot was most likely the German flying ace Wolfgang Kosse.

Evan Mackie was sitting in his Tempest, waiting to take off, when the Volkel airfield was attacked by low flying fighters.

Two weeks later, Evan Mackie was given command of No 80 Squadron, at Volkel.

Evan Mackie replaced another New Zealander, Robert Spurdle, who had flown continuously for six months and was exhausted.

Uninjured, Evan Mackie flew the next day, leading a sortie of eight Tempests in attacking two trains laden with trucks.

The sweep resulted in 14 planes of the Luftwaffe being destroyed in the air and on the ground; Evan Mackie was responsible for three of those on the ground.

Evan Mackie achieved 20 aerial 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.

Evan Mackie was credited with five and a half kills in the Hawker Tempest.

Evan Mackie was the most successful flying ace to serve with the RNZAF.

Evan Mackie returned to England in February 1946, where he married Marjorie at Garston.

Evan Mackie then took up a posting with the British Air Forces of Occupation.

Evan Mackie resumed his career as an electrician, working at the Waitomo Electric Power Board.

Evan Mackie eventually became Chief Inspector for the Tauranga Power Board, retiring in 1978.

Evan Mackie died of cancer on 28 April 1986, survived by his wife and two sons.