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JN/NF (right aligned)

402557 : Flight Sergeant John Duncan Duthie MACKIE.
PARENTS : Mr. & Mrs. D.D. Mackie of Wellington.

John Mackie was born at Auckland on the 26th May, 1921. His sports included football, and tennis. After leaving school he was employed on farms on work of a general nature, but for some time prior to his application for service in the R.N.Z.A.F. on the 19th March, 1940, had been employed as junior audit clerk by Messrs. Rowley, Gill, Hobbs & Glen, Public Accountants, Wellington.

Flight Sergeant Mackie was enlisted at R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Blenheim on the 10th July, 1940, and employed on ground duties. On the 17th March, 1941, he was posted to the Initial Training Wing, Levin, for training as aircrew, and on the 26th May he embarked for Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada F/Sgt. Mackie was - on the 16th June, 1941 - posted to No. 3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba. He proceeded to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba, on the 26th October. On the 25th November he returned to No. 3 Wireless School, where - on the 11th December - he was awarded his flying badge as an air gunner and promoted from LAC to the rank of Sergeant. He proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the 19th December, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

F/Sgt Mackie arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 20th January. He was posted to No .12 Operational Training Unit, Chipping Warden, Oxfordshire, on the 19th May, where he crewed up and completed his training on Wellington bomber aircraft before proceeding on the 3rd September, 1942, to No. 35 Squadron, Rufforth, Yorkshire. At