Evan Mackie

Wing Commander Evan "Rosie" Mackie, DSO, DFC & Bar, was a New Zealand fighter pilot and ace of the Second World War.

Many New Zealand pilots who served overseas enlisted in the RAF; Mackie chose to join the RNZAF and as such he was the highest scoring member of that service.

Born in October 1917, 'Rosie', (so named when in the RAF because of his ruddy complexion) trained as an electrician before the war. Mackie joined the RNZAF in January 1941, and on completion of flying training was posted to the No 485 (NZ) Squadron in the UK in early 1942. On 26 March he shared in destroying a Bf 109, and a month later probably destroyed a 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, 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 DFC in May, and achieved success in combat through April- October 1943. On 7 April the squadron intercepted fifteen Ju 87's with Bf 109 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 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, while 2 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 UK in February 1944.

He then joined 274 Squadron flying the Hawker Tempest in December 1944 at Volkel in Holland. 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. They were in open formation. When almost abreast of these A/C at about 6,000 ft 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 FW190 and opened fire with four cannons at a range of about 250 yds closing to 50 yds. 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 FW190 by myself and F/L Malloy who was flying Red 3. After I broke away, S/L Baird stated that the FW190 levelled out, going very slowly, dropped a wing and then spun into the ground approx. 4 miles SE of Eindhoven, where it blew up." 

In early January 1945 Mackie was given command of 80 Squadron 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 No. 122 Wing Leader in April 1945. He then 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 486 Squadron over the Kiel-Haderslev area, and they claimed three Fiesler Storch Fi 156 aircraft destroyed on the ground.

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.

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 his military service.