Interesting Jacket Section

[DMD]

Is there a database that could be used to determine whose jacket this is from? There were only 213 Canadians that received two DFCs in World War II, and very few pilots who were in the Korean War. Would the combination of two DFCs, the ACE with rosette, and the Korea Medal make this researchable?

Dennis

[Gary Cain]

Hi Dennis,

Yes it would. The RCAF has a good site thet is very researchable and you might be able to find him there. I don't remember the address but you should be able to find it pretty easily.


Cheers
Gary

Is there a database that could be used to determine whose jacket this is from? There were only 213 Canadians that received two DFCs in World War II, and very few pilots who were in the Korean War. Would the combination of two DFCs, the ACE with rosette, and the Korea Medal make this researchable?

Dennis

[Tony Farrell]

Like the RAF, the RCAF's commitment during the Korean War was minimal. The only RCAF unit was 426 sqn - a transport outfit flying C54s. However, there were 22 pilots attached to the USAF - mainly flying F86s - which isn't many. A DFC* & CD narrows it down even more. I reckon this is your man:

WING COMMANDER JOHN MACKAY DFC* CD

MacKay of Winnipeg, Manitoba, ran up an impressive score of 11 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2½ damaged in aerial combat plus 30 others damaged on the ground while serving with 401 Squadron. He was awarded the DFC in April 1945, for attacks on enemy transport in the Falaise Gap and Arnheim battles, often in the face of heavy anti-aireraft fire; and for destroying 3 enemy aircraft in one sortie on 1st January 1945.

He led his section in the attack against enemy aircraft which were circling his squadron's aerodrome. W/C MacKay destroyed one of the attackers, and after expending the remainder of his ammunition on a second aircraft pursued it so closely that he forced the pilot to crash. A few minutes later he repeated his brilliant feat and forced another machine to crash.

After the war W/C MacKay remained in the RCAF and served as an exchange pilot with the USAF (39th FIS, 51st FIW) in Korea. Then a Squadron Leader, he was awarded the United States Air Medal. The citation of which reads, in part:

"S/L MacKay distinguished himself by meritorious achievement by participating in aerial flight of F-86 aircraft, 39th Fighter Interception Squadron, 5th Air Force, from 1st April 1953 to 9th May 1953. During that period 5/L MacKay demonstrated outstanding professional ability during sustained air combat operations over Korea. Despite adverse weather, hazardous terrain and numerically superior enemy fighter aircraft, S/L MacKay accomplished numerous missions which contributed substantially to the United Nations operations."

[DMD]

Thanks, Tony, but I am not sure that Mackay is the man. I am very new to the British and Commonwealth area (US has been my main interest), so let me know if this is not right.

I did some internet research on Mackay, and he was assigned to 401 Squadron on in August, 1944. Since the Air Crew Europe Star was not awarded after June 6, 1944, it looks like Mackay could not have received the ACE. The combination of 1939-1945 Star and ACE would require 120 days of operational flying prior to D-Day.

It looks like this would have belonged to a member of 426 Squadron or one of the RCAF pilots attached to the US Air Force during the Korean War.

Is there anything about the ribbons that would cause its authenticity to be questioned? Made-up US uniforms seem to be a common occurrence.

Dennis