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Name Mackay
First names Alexander John
Rank Pilot Officer (later Wing Commander)
Service RAF
Crew position Air Bombardier
Comments Posted in 8/44
March 1945..... the raid on Bohlen was to be the final operation of a long and testing tour for F/Lt Leslie Hay 'Uncle Will' and his crew
Awarded the DFC and MBE

Photograph courtesy of Jane Mickelborough (nee Mackay)
Alexander John Mackay during training in Texas (see text below)

Photograph courtesy of Jane Mickelborough (nee Mackay)
P/O Mackay with his brother Donald (Donny)

Photograph courtesy of Jane Mickelborough (nee Mackay)
P/O Mackay (Bomb Aimer with the "Uncle Will" crew)
Alexander John Mackay joined the Home Guard in South England when the Second World War started. Later he joined the Royal Air Force and was trained as a fighter pilot in Texas, United States.

After a crash he was re-trained as navigator/bomb-aimer in Trentham, Canada. He was then commissioned as Pilot Officer on 19th January 1945.

He served as a bomb-aimer in Lancaster bombers (49 Squadron, 'Uncle' Will Hay, Pilot) completing a full tour of duty. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on September 25th, 1945.

When the war ended he left the RAF, but was later re-commissioned and served in Palestine (receiving the Palestine Bar to his General Service Medal). On 1st October 1950 he was promoted to Flying Officer and finally became a Wing Commander in 1967. He retired at his own request, due to ill health, on 25th November 1972.

F/O L.J. Hay, Pilot
Sgt F. Green, Flight Engineer
P/O P.W.Smith, Navigator
W/O H. Jenkinson, Wireless Operator
F/Sgt A.E. French, Mid-upper Gunner
P/O A.J. Mackay, Bomb Aimer
F/O J.S. Hall, Rear Gunner

 Commissioned  19th January 1945  Pilot Officer
 Promotion  19th July 1945  Flying Officer
 Award DFC  21 September 1945  
 Re-commissioned  28th December 1948  Pilot Officer
 Promotion  1st October 1950  Flying Officer
 Promotion  16 Apr 1953  Flight Lieutenant
 Promotion  1st July 1959  Squadron Leader
 Award MBE  1st January 1964  
 Promotion  1st Jan. 1965  Wing Commander
 Retirement  25th November 1972