The latest Wings Over New Zealand Show is now available to listen to and download for free. In this episode I have delved into my archive and pulled out one of my earlier 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 No. 100 Squadron RAF in Singapore in early 1941. Following several months there he was then posted to Ceylon in July 1941 where he tells his exotic tales of flying Vildebeests, Seals, Fulmars, Hudsons and Swordfish on patrols over the Indian Ocean protecting Ceylon.
He talks about the huge attack on Ceylon on the 25th of April 1942 when the aircraft of five Japanese aircraft carriers attacked the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force bases.
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.
Here is the link
http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2016/07/don-mackenzie/
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July 9, 2016 at 9:38 am