MacKENZIE, John Grant
NAME MacKENZIE John Grant
RANK Squadron Leader 12929 UNIT Royal Canadian Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine Toronto - Ontario attached to Gander - Newfoundland Born June 3, 1909 - Lucknow - Township of Ashfield / West Wawanosh - County of Huron Township of Kinloss - County of Bruce Residence Madison - Wisconsin - USA Died September 4, 1943 34 years 3 months
Cemetery Gander War Cemetery - Gander - Newfoundland 1 2 10
Wife Mrs. Alice MacKenzie - Thamesford - Ontario; Madison - Wisconsin - USA; Thamesford - Ontario Daughter Miss Bonnie MacKenzie - Thamesford - Ontario
Parents Mr. William and Mary Ann MacKenzie - Lucknow 0 Ontario Sister Mrs. Jessie Allin - Lucknow - Ontario
John was born in Lucknow on June 3, 1909. He attended Public School in Lucknow from 1915-23, Lucknow Continuation School from 1923-27 and then attended Wingham Collegiate from 1927-28. He then attended the University of toronto Faculty of Medicine from 1928-36. He did his residency at St Michaels Hospital in Toronto - Ontario. He graduated as a medical doctor specializing in the eye, ear and throat. Following this he went to Columbia University in New York City to their College of Physicians and Surgeons from 1938-41.He then did his post graduate studies at the Jefferson Medical College in New York City. Prior to his enlistment in Canada he was employed by the Davies and Neff Clinic - Madison - Wisconsin - USA. He would have attended Lucknow United Church and Westminster United Church in Thamesford. He enjoyed swimming, skating, golf, photography, music and fishing.
Canada
John enlisted into the Royal Canadian Air Force in Toronto on July 6, 1942. On that day he received the rank of Pilot Officer and then was appointed to the rank of Flight Leader. At the time he was 5' 10" and he weighed 161 pounds. He had a medium complexion with hazel eyes and brown hair. His first posting was to No. 6 Initial Training School in Toronto on July 6 but while there he was assigned for a period of time to No. 1 Technical School in St. Thomas - Ontario. His next posting was on May 25, 1943 and on Temporary duty to Niagara Falls - Ontario and returning the following day. On June 9 he went to No. 21 Elementary Flying Training School based at Oshawa - Ontario for the day on Temporary Duty. On Jun 16 again on Temporary Duty he went to No. 1 Service Flying Training School based at Camp Borden and returned on July 7. While here he obtained the rank of Squadron Leader. From July 21-24 he was on Temporary Duty to No. 3 Training Command in Montreal - Quebec. Between August 7-9 he was again on Temporary Duty with RCAF Active Force Headquarters. On August 19 while on Temporary Duty he went to Port Colborne and returned the same day. Then it was to Gander - Newfoundland on Temporary Duty on August 23.
In the Field
RCAF No. 10 Bomber Reconnaissance Unit was flying Liberator B24 aircraft when Squadron Leader MacKenzie arrived to do his medical research. He was on a Temporary Duty for three weeks. This mission of September 4, 1943 had to do with the effects that altitude and vibration from the aircraft had on the ears of the airmen. In fact, he insisted on making actual research flights in checking his findings in research for aviation medicine. Early in the war the Federal Government and men such as Dr. Frederick Banting formed the Associate Committee on Aviation Medical Research of the National Research Council and the Royal Canadian Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine would be working together in this area. Liberator 589 D was engaged in a night flying exercise in the early morning of September 4. After taking off and attempting to climb it made a slow turn and suddenly crashed into Gander Lake about 150 yards offshore and about 1 mile southwest of the end of the runway and burned. It was thought that some foreign object had interfered with one of the flight controls causing the aircraft to lose control. Another possibility was engine failure. Witnesses at the time said the aircraft spun then barrel rolled three times before hitting the water.
The aircraft was located on a ledge. Gander Lake ranges from 350' to 950' deep and was fortunate it was able to be reached by divers and that it was on the ledge. It was lying on its back and on a steep incline. The aircraft was deemed to be too badly damaged to attempt to move. As they were recovering the body of Squadron Leader MacKenzie on September 10 the aircraft began to slide and shortly after his body was recovered Liberator 589D slid off the ledge into much deeper water. However, very recently the aircraft has been located by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Shipwreck Preservation Socity of Newfoundland and Labrador. The water where the aircraft lies is a red tea colour and it absorbs all the light making the dives very dark. Visibility is about a metre. What the divers found was the landing gear still down and not retracted and the tires still holding air. The aircraft is in very good condition and well preserved. Six dives were completed to a depth of 160 feet A 50 calibre machine gun has been found along with ammunition and instruments.
In the month of August 1944 both Squadron Leaders MacKenzies' wife Alice and his mother Mary Ann received the Memorial Cross. His wife at some point received the General Service Medal and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp that had been awarded to her husband.
