Thanks Oscar,

Veterans I have talked with who were there recall B-25’s and Marauders as well as B-17’s. I believe around 250 aircraft took part in the raid but I have no idea how many aircrfat are in those bombardment groups, or how many squadrons are within each group.

One thing I’d particularly like to discover is if the RAF was involved, were there any New Zealand airmen above them on the raid, in bombers or as escorts.

OK, here is the postings and movements list for Don Mackie as best as I can make out. I have expanded on the abbreviations on the sheet where I know the full names, and I’ve added in aircraft types trained on/ flown operationally in where known

Enlistment, sent to:
– Ground Training School, RNZAF Station Levin – 27 Oct 1940
– Final Leave began – 19 Nov 1941
– Embarked for Canada – 6 Jan 1941
– Disembarked at Canada – 24 Jan 1941
– Posted No. 1 Wireless School, RCAF Montreal, Quebec – 23 Jan 1941
– Posted to K.T.S., RCAF Trenton – 19 Aug 1941
– Posted to No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School, RCAF Mountain View – 30 Aug 1941 (This school had Anson, Battle, Lysander, Bolingbroke, and Nomad)
– Posted to 1Y Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia 29 Sep 1941
– Posted to RAF Transport Pool – 6 Oct 1941
– Embarked from Halifax for UK – 7 Oct 1941
– Arrived No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, RAF, Bournemouth – 19 Oct 1941
– To No. 60 Operational Training Unit, RAF Leconfield – 4 Jan 1942 (Blenheim and Defiants)
– Posted to No. 264 Squadron, RAF Colerne – 31 Mar 1942 (Defiant, Mosquito?)
– Posted to No. 288 Squadron, RAF Digby – 25 June 1942 (??)
– Posted to No. 5 Personnel Despatch Centre, Blackpool – 4 May 1943
– Posted to West Africa, embarking on – 18 May 1943
– Posted to No. 1 Personnel Despatch Centre – 16 Dec 1943
– Posted to 11 Base – 26 Feb 1944
– Posted to No. 12 Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre – 19 Jan 1945
– Repatriated for Duty – 10 Feb 1945
– Overseas No. 2 Personnel Despatch (Transport) – 21 Mar 1945
– To Central Non Effective Pool – 23 Mar 1945
– To Station No. 1 (??) – 19 May 1945
– To Northern Non Effective Pool Category 11 – 16 July 1945
– To Northern Non Effective Pool Category 8
– Reserved 11 Oct 1945

So, there is the list. I don’t know what KTS at Trenton stood for. I’m also unaware of what Station No. 1 was (it’s in the sheet as Stn No. 1 so assume it’s Station)

As for the West Africa period another record sheet says:
– No. 2 PDC to West Africa – 15 May 1943
– To No. 200 Squadron – 1 June 1943 (Liberator and Hudson)
– To No. 1 PDC 16 Dec 1943
– To 11 Base – 26 Feb 1944
– To No. 12 (NZ) PDRC – 19 Jan 1945…..

Thanks Kev. So, and forgive my ignorance because I’ve not actually thought about this before, but did experienced gunner crew members like Mackie and Jack and King get sent after a rest period to a Heavy Conversion unit to crew up with new pilots and nav’s, etc? I’d always assumed that aircrew only went through such schools at the beginning of their operational career, and only returned to become instructors. I thought that an experienced guy would come off leave and be posted direct to either his old or a new squadron, and once there be directed toward which crew to join as a replacement or whatever by the CO. But now I’m wondering if I should doubt that assumption.

Thanks for changing the title Peter. Thanks also Wellington 285 for the extra info that the engine dropped off. that adds more to the reason of why it went into an uncontrollable spin and they had to jump from the aircraft. Would you mind if I used that photo of F/O McIvor’s headstone on my webpage on Don Mackie when I update it please?

The first digit of the serial number on the document I have is slightly smudged. It may be an H? Does that work?