Operation: Circus 113

Date: 09th March 1942 (Monday)

Unit: No. 118 Squadron (motto: Occido redeoque - 'I kill and return'). 11 Group

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: BL332

Code: NK-?

Base: RAF Ibsley, Hampshire

Location: Coldred, Kent

Pilot: F/O. Roderick William Parke Mackenzie 61029 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 14:30 hrs to escort 6 Boston bombers that were to attack the oil plant at Mazingarbe, All the Bostons returned safely.

118 squadron were then engaged in a dog fight with Me109's and Fw 109e's. During the combat Sgt. Jones flying Spitfire Vb BL464 shot down one Fw109e but was also hit. He managed to return to RAF Redhill but after inspection the Spitfire was discovered to have category 'B' damage - aircraft repaired, pilot unhurt.

The combats caused the loss of two other pilots:

24 year old, Sgt. Malcolm Wallace Hamilton Aus/404726 RAAF flying Spitfire Vb AA849 with 452 squadron.

22 year old, Fl/Sgt. John Desmond O'Connor 997604 RAFVR flying Spitfire Vb W3382 with 602 squadron. Both victims of JG26 and falling into the English Channel.

Another returned also suffered category 'B' damage - aircraft repaired, pilot slightly injured:
32 year old, Sq/Ldr. Christopher Frederick Currant (1) DFC 43367 RAF flying Spitfires Vb W3846 with 501 squadron.

BL332 flown by F/O. Roderick Mackenzie 61029 RAFVR was also attacked but he managed to fly back to England. He had aimed to force land in a wheat field but it seems that the fuel had run out. He attempted to bale out but the parachute tangled with the tailplane and he was killed.

(1) Christopher Frederick Currant 'Bunny' DFC. DSO. MiD x 2. Croix de Guerre Belge. Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav - Born on the 14th December 1911 in Luton, Bedfordshire. Flew in the Battle of Britain. He retired on the 11th January 1959 as a Wing Commander whereafter he joined an engineering firm in Luton – his employers developed weapons for the RAF. He finally retired in 1974. Married to Cynthia in 1942 and they had three sons and a daughter. Passed away on the 12th March 2006. A Fighter Command Ace with 15 kills claimed.

Burial details:

F/O. Roderick William Parke Mackenzie. Streatham Park Cemetery. Square 9. Grave 10286. Born on the 18th February 1921 in Brixton, London. Trained as a police officer prior to service. Son of Murdo Mackenzie, and of Agnes Teresa Mackenzie (née Parke), of Chesham Bois, Buckinghamshire, England.

Others:

Sgt. Malcolm Wallace Hamilton. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 112. Born on the 05th May 1917 in Brisbane, Queensland. Enlisted on the 08th November 1940. Son of William Graham Hamilton (died 1961, age 71) and Kathleen Daphne Hamilton (née James Wallace - died 1976, age 85), of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Fl/Sgt. John Desmond O'Connor. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 75. Son of John and Elizabeth O'Connor, of Rotherham, Yorkshire, England.

Above exert from 'The First Of The Few' starring Dvid Niven and featuring 'Bunny' Currant.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Alison Bailey, Victor Hill, Amersham Museum, National Archives Kew, Air-27-907-26, Jevers Steam Laundry. The Brenzett Aeronautical Society.

• Paul McGuiness Archive: 452 Sqn Spitfires Apr 1941 - Jun 1942

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