McKENZIE, Robert Douglas

NAME                   McKENZIE           Robert Douglas
RANK                    Flight Sergeant / Wireless Operator /Air Gunner         85969                                                                                      RAF Coastal Command                                                                                                SQUADRON         No. 1 Operational Training Unit
                              RAF Silloth Airfield - Cumbria - England                                                                                Born                      May 18, 1922 - Toronto - Ontario                                                                                  Residence             Clinton                                                                                                                                    Died                       August 25, 1942          20 years   3 months
Cemetery              Causewayhead Cemetery - Silloth - Holme Low - Cumberland - England
                              S 18
Parents                 Mr. Robert and Edeline McKenzie - Clinton.

Robert was born on May 18, 1922 in Toronto and at some point his family moved to Clinton. While growing up he had his tonsils and his appendix removed and he also had the measles and the mumps. He enjoyed playing hockey and football. He attended public school in Clinton 1927-1935 and his his schooling was from 1935-38. He left school after completing two years. He and his family would have attended St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. He was employed by his father as a carpenter prior to his enlistment.

Canada
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When he enlisted on December 27, 1940 he was in Toronto at the time. At that time he stood 5' 6" tall and weighed 155 pounds. He had a medium complexion with blue eyes and fair hair. He received the rank of Aircraftsman 2. The day he enlisted he was assigned to No. 1 Manning Depot - Toronto.                                        A littler less than three weeks later on January 15, 1941 he was posted to No. 1 Equipment Depot in Toronto. He received the rank of Corporal while here. In the middle of April on the 13th he was posted to No. 3 Wireless School based in Winnipeg - Manitoba. In the autumn on September his next posting took him to No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School based at Dafoe - Saskatchewan. Then it was back to No. 3 Wireless School on October 25. It was while here he received the rank of Sergeant 1 anlong with this Air Gunner Badge. His Canadian training was mostly completed because on November 16 he was posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot in Halifax. On December 13 he transferred to the RAF Training Pool and that same day he embarked from Canada for overseas. He disembarked in the United on December 25 and on December 26 reported to Bournemouth at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre.                                                                                                                                                    He remained here until January 20, 1942 when he reported to RAF No. 1 Signal School based at RAF Cranwell - Lincolnshire. While here he received the rank of Wireless Operator / Air Gunnerr II. His next move was to No. 3 Radio School based at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. On June 9 he reported to No. 1 Operational Training Unite based in Cumbria.                                                                                                                                                  No. 1 Operational Training Unit was under RAF Coastal Command and was originally set up for the training of all coastal command squadrons. Originally they were equipped with Ansons, Blenheims, Beauforts and Hudsons. As time passed other OTUs were established and No. 1 trained only crews for the Hudson bomber.
The Silloth trainer was developed here. This was a Hudson fuselage with electronics and pneumatics fitted
to simulate instrument readings, engine sounds and movement for “realistic” training.
Hudson AM 676, the Hudson aircraft that F/S McKenzie was a crewmember of crashed into the sea in the Solway Firth at 4:20 pm south of Allenby in Cumberland after the pilot lost control of his aircraft. The body of Flight Sergeant McKenzie was located on September 6, 1942.
The Hudson was mainly used for bombing but had a very prominent niche in anti-shipping / anti-submarine
patrol work as well as air sea rescue, and was able to carry 1,000 lbs. of bombs and depth charges.

Robert's mother Edeline received the Memorial Cross along with the medals awarded to Robert which were the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

Robert is honoured and remembered on the Clinton Cenotaph and the Memorial Plaques at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 140 and Clinton Collegiate Institute. He is also remembered on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and Memorial Plaque of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Clinton.