John MacKay

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Canadian Fighter Pilots Get Biggest Bag of Huns

London, Jan. 2, 1945 - (CP) - Canadian fighter pilots accounted for at least half of the 94 German planes destroyed by the RAF's 2nd Tactical Air Force New Year's Day when the Luftwaffe made an attempt to cripple west front airfield operations.
A compilation tonight, based on the latest reports received from the Continent, showed that RCAF fighters in their biggest day of the war destroyed at least 36 enemy aircraft and half-a-dozen others fel1 to Canadian sharpshooters in RAF Squadrons.
The top scoring wing in the 2nd Tactical Air Force during the day of close to 100 "kills" was the Canadian Spitfire unit which brought down 24 German machines, probably destroyed another three and damaged seven. An untold number of probables and damaged planes was claimed by other Canadians.
The wing’s scorers included two airmen who downed three planes apiece, both from the Ram Squadron. FO G. D. Cameron of Toronto destroyed a trio of ME-109s while Flt. Lt. John Mackay of Cloverdale, B.C. destroyed two ME-109s and an FW-190. Mackay got the last two without using his guns because they dived into the ground when he chased them.
Flt. Lt. D. Pieri of Toronto and Elmhurst, Ill., destroyed two ME-190s and probably destroyed two others.
Flt. Lt. Dick Audet of Lethbridge, Alta., who last Friday shot down five enemy planes in little more than five minutes, brought his total to seven with two FW-190s bagged as they roared low over his field. Friday's quintet were the first aircraft the 22 year-old Lethbridge airman had downed.
Others from the Canadian wing, who helped to set up the day's record - the previous top mark for the Canadians in a single day was 22 planes - included Sqdn. Ldr. Dean Dover, DFC, and Bar, of Toronto, who destroyed an ME-109 and shared another with FO. Dean Kelly of Peterborough, Ont. and Flt. Lt Donald Gordon of Vancouver with two ME-109's.
Double scorers included Flt. Lt. J. W. Garland, Richmond, Ont., PO. Steve Butte, Michel. B.C.; PO. Mac Reeves, Madoc, Ont.; and FO. A. H. Fraser, Westmount, Que.
Single scorers included Flt. Lt. B. Banks, Toronto; Flt. Lt. B. MacPherson, St. Thomas, Ont.; Flt Lt. Basil Doak, Cowansville, Que.; FO. Vic Smith, Toronto; FO. J. C. Lee, Ottawa; PO. D. M. Horsburgh, Carnduff, Sask.; Flt. Lt. N. Keen, White Lake. B.C.; FO. H. Laurence, Edson, Alta.; and Flt. Sgt. Keith Lindsay, 10764 95th St. Edmonton. Lindsay also claimed one probable.

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One Pilot Gets Triple Kill As Canadians Destroy 11

London, Jan. 15 -(CP)- Flt. Lt. J. Mackay of Cloverdale, B.C., an RCAF Ram Squadron pilot, scored a triple victory Sunday when planes of a Canadian Spitfire wing destroyed 11 Focke-Wulf 190's in 15 minutes over Enschede, Holland, near the German border.
Flt. Lt. Mackay's triple kill, his second in a fortnight, was scored in a dog fight that developed after the Canadians saw 15 German planes taking off from Enschede air field.
Others to destroy single enemy planes included:
Flt. Lt. Dick Audet, DFC, of Lethbridge, Alta., a Grizzly Bear Squadron sharpshooter who boosted his total of downed planes to 9 1/2. Five of that total were destroyed in a single engagement recently.
Flt. Lt. J. J. Boyle, Toronto, and FO. J. A. Doran of Victoria, both Grizzly Bear Squadron members.
Flt. Lt. J. H. G. Dick of Montreal and Flt. Lt. J. E. G. Reade, an American, both of the Caribou Squadron.
Flt. Lt. F. Murray, Saint John, N.B., and FO. D. B. Dack of Calgary and Taber, Alta.
Passing over the airfield, the Ram Squadron airmen saw 12 Focke-Wulfs flying east over the airdrome at 1,000 feet and others taking off. The Canadians attacked.

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MACKAY, F/L John (J12635) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.401 Squadron -
Award effective 23 March as per London Gazette dated 3 April 1945 and
AFRO 765/45 dated 4 May 1945.

This officer has shown outstanding ability in operations against enemy transport, both in the Battle of the Falaise Gap and in the Arnhem battle. Most of these attacks were pressed home in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire. In January 1946 Flight Lieutenant Mackay led his section in an attack against enemy aircraft which were circling his airfield. He successfully destroyed one of the attackers and after expending the remainder of his ammunition on a second, pursued it so closely that he forced the pilot to crash. A few minutes later he repeated this brilliant feat and forced another enemy pilot to crash, thus destroying three enemy aircraft in one sortie. Flight Lieutenant Mackay has always displayed outstanding skill, determination and courage.

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MACKAY, F/L John, DFC (J12635) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - No.401 Squadron
Award effective 15 May 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 1085/45 dated 29 June 1945.

Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Flight Lieutenant Mackay has participated in very many sorties. Throughout he has displayed the greatest keenness and has been responsible for the destruction of much enemy equipment. He is a highly skilled and fearless fighter, whose devotion to duty has been outstanding. Flight Lieutenant Mackay has destroyed ten enemy aircraft in air fighting.

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Canadian Aces