OUTSTANDING AIRMAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1943, Page 4

OUTSTANDING AIRMAN

WING COMMANDER MACKENZIE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN MIDDLE EAST (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 22. Wing Commander Russell Mackenzie, D.F.C., A.F.C., of Christchurch, who was recently awarded the D. 5.0., is regarded as one of the outstanding Nev/ Zealanders in the Middle East. He arrived in England before the war and took a short service commission. Then, after a period instructing, he was with Eeaufighter night fighters before going to Egypt. He shot down two Germans over Alexandria at night and another when at Malta, from which place he carried out night strafing of enemy aerodromes, carrying two 2501 b bombs. With an observer, Flying Officer A. Craig, of Wellington, Wing Commander Mackenzie later operated from Benghazi and then from Misurata. He is now in Cyprus. From that base he is operating over Cos and Leros. He was strafing Comiso before Sicily fell v/hen anti-aircraft fire hit his port motor. He was losing height all the way to Malta and when 30 miles from shore a propeller fell off, but he landed safely.