Norman Mackie service career

Norman Mackie service career

The document describes Norman's last school days and using various means to try to join the RAF, finally being accepted for pilot training, with service deferred until June 1940. It covers initial training at No 2 ITW Cambridge; continues with flying training at EFTS at RAF White Waltham, and thence to navigator training. This led to pre-onward posting to Hampdens, followed by a move to 14 OTU at RAF Cottesmore. It covers his first tour on 83 Squadron at RAF Scampton; first 12 operations as navigator/bomb aimer/gunner followed by return to OTU to qualify as Hampden captain. Also, a further 9 operations on Hampden before the squadron converted to Manchesters, on which he completed first tour. Norman ended as deputy flight commander, as flight lieutenant with a DFC. After an instructional tour (on which he also flew 2 operations with staff crew) he returned to 83 Squadron which was now part of the Pathfinders with Lancasters at RAF Wyton. He continued as a qualified marker until he was shot down whilst returning from his 20th (on that tour) operation to Stuttgart on 11 March 1943. He describes evading, capture, escape and finally getting to Switzerland, eventually re-escaping from Switzerland and travelling through France to Spain. On return to the UK, he re-joined Pathfinder Force as an instructor at RAF Warboys. In April 1944, Norman returned to operational flying as a flight commander on 571 Squadron flying Mosquitos. He amassed a further 40 operations and was awarded DSO. He writes a little on his post war career, which he continued as pilot on permanent commission. (Document has many crossing outs and amendments as well as re-written pages).

Twelve page handwritten document

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