Evan Mackie

Early life

Evan Dall Mackie was born in Waihi, New Zealand, on 31 October 1917. He attended Waihi East Primary School and Waihi District High School, and then studied at the Waihi School of Mines. He obtained an electrical apprenticeship with the Martha Gold Mining Coy (Waihi) Ltd., and went to work at the largest gold mine in New Zealand. Tough physical labour during early employment and work in the mines apparently contributed to his ruddy complexion, earning him the nickname "Rosie" in the air force.

Military service

Mackie joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in January 1941, and on completion of flying training was posted to the No. 485 (NZ) Squadron in the United Kingdom in early 1942. On 26 March he shared in destroying a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter, and a month later probably destroyed a Focke-Wulf Fw 190. His Spitfire was hit by flak in the port wing but he returned to base safely.

In March 1943 he was posted to North Africa, to No. 243 Squadron RAF, 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 Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in May, and achieved success in combat through April to October 1943. On 7 April the squadron intercepted fifteen Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers with Bf 109 fighter escort. The Spitfires shot down five, Mackie claiming two. Three days later he claimed a Bf 109 and in the next month claimed another two destroyed and share in a third. He was subsequently awarded a Bar to the DFC.

In June 1943 the squadron moved to Malta to participate in the invasion of Sicily. Mackie was promoted to acting squadron leader and given command of the unit. A Bf 109 was claimed on 4 July (of II./[[JG 77 and another Bf 109 of I./JG 53 on 5 July]])—possibly Herbert Broennle who was killed in action—while two 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 United Kingdom in February 1944.

He then joined No. 274 Squadron RAF flying the Hawker Tempest in December 1944 at Volkel in the Netherlands. On 24 December 1944, he shot down an Fw 190 over the Malmedy area (the Fw 190 A-9 "White 6" of 28-kill ace Hpt. Wolfgang Kosse, 13./JG 3, who was killed). His combat report read:

I was flying No. 2 to Talbot Leader in Red Section on a patrol Julich-Malmedy and while we were returning to base and approaching Eindhoven, I noticed approx. 8 Typhoons flying in the opposite direction at about 4,000 ft (1,200 m). They were in open formation. When almost abreast of these A/C at about 6,000 ft (1,800 m) I noticed one of the Typhoons suddenly break formation and dive into the ground on fire and I did not see anybody bale out. I then noticed the machine which had been flying behind that one, had moved behind another Typhoon, which then began shedding large pieces and losing height. Although we were not close enough to these aircraft to identify one of them as an enemy, I realised that this particular one must have been, so I immediately jettisoned my long-range tanks and gave chase.

There was no R/T communication between myself and the other members of the section, as I had not heard the order to change to channel 'A'. The E/A lost some height then pulled vertically upwards. I identified it as a short nosed Fw 190 and opened fire with four cannons at a range of about 250 yd (230 m) closing to 50 yd (46 m). I then broke off the attack as I was then rolling over on to my back. I gave about a 2 1/2 sec. burst and numerous strikes were seen on the wings and centre section of the Fw 190 by myself and F/L Malloy who was flying Red 3. After I broke away, S/L Baird stated that the Fw 190 levelled out, going very slowly, dropped a wing and then spun into the ground approx. 4 mi (6.4 km) SE of Eindhoven, where it blew up.

In early January 1945 Mackie was given command of No. 80 Squadron RAF at Volkel. He destroyed a Bf 109 on 23 January 1945, and shot down a Fw 190 near Hanover on 7 March. He then became Wing Leader of No. 122 Wing RAF in April 1945. He destroyed two Arado Ar 96 trainers on 9 April and shared in the destruction of a Fw 190 six days later. On 4 May 1945 Mackie led No. 486 Squadron RNZAF over the Kiel-Haderslev area, and they claimed three Fieseler Fi 156 aircraft destroyed on the ground. Mackie was awarded the Distinguished Service Order later that month, and the American Distinguished Flying Cross in July.

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.

Post 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 Mackie's war service.