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209305

Sgt. Jack "Mad Mac" McKenzie

Royal Air Force 460 sqd.

from:Pembroke Dock

(d.16th Dec 1943)

My uncle, Jack McKenzie, flight engineer, was killed in action, together with all crew, on the 16th December 1943 at Market Stainton. They had been shot up over Berlin and circled Binbrook for 45 mins but were unable to find the drome, due to fog and low cloud. They stalled on the ammo dump at Market Stainton. At least Uncle Jack had celebrated his 21st birthday 6 days before he crashed.

The crew were:-

  • F A Randall (P),
  • W K Halstead (N),
  • H G D Dedman (B),
  • H H Peterson (W),
  • C G Howie (G),
  • R A Moynagh (G).
They are all buried in a beautiful RAF cemetery in Cambridge. The 7 gravestones are grouped together. There were quite a few stones with the date 16th December 1943.

His ops were with:- J. Goulevitch (11), J.D. Ogilvie(8) and F. A. Randall (2). All Jack wanted was revenge on the Germans for killing his uncle, mother and 2 brothers - maybe that's why he was known as 'Mad Mac'.

Additional Information:

I have been researching No.460 Sqn recently and thought you would like to know what I have discovered about your Uncle Sgt McKenzie. His service number was 573805 which indicates he was an ex Halton Apprentice, 38th Entry. 1300 boys of the 38th Entry arrived at RAF Halton in August 1938. It has the distinction of being the shortest serving Entry. Normally training in the technical trades took three years but the 38th Entry boys were posted out in April 1940 I year and 8 months after starting training.Such was the pressure for trained personnel in 1940. I was researching Sgt J D Oglivie who was the Pilot on your Uncle's first flight with No.460 Sqn to Oberhausen 14/15th June 1943 in W4939 AR.L As you say he completed 8 sorties with Sgt Ogilvie.I have not been able to find out anything about Sgt Ogilvie, bit I am still looking A lot of Squadron aircrew called this day Black Thursday. Due to the dreadful weather it seems the RAF lost 67 aircraft. I know for sure No.97 Sqn lost 7 Lancasters all crashed on return to base.

This was the sort of odds Bomber aircrew faced with not just the Luftwaffe and Flak but the dreadful weather I Hope this info is of use to you.

Charles Cunningham








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