| 26" x 20" | "MacKenzie's Wing Strike" Brian Withams Countersigned Edition Size: 1940 |
$125.00 (Cdn) |
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K.W. MacKenzie DFC, AFC, AE, served with 501 SQN on Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain. On the 7th of October 1940, the squadron having been scrambled to intercept enemy aircraft, he helped destroy one enemy fighter and engaged a second, damaging it before his ammunition ran out. However, although the 109 slowed somewhat it continued on straight over the channel towards its base. "Mac" describes the incident, "I ended up formatting on him on his port side, in close formation as it were. My starboard wing tip was positioned over his port tail plane as I put on hard starboard aileron. Bringing the wing sharply down onto the port tail plane the last 3 feet or so of my wing broke off. It went upwards and backwards in the slip stream. His port tail plane broke off, no other damage noticed, and he plunged down to port into the sea. Although the aircraft was destroyed, the pilot was picked up by a German rescue boat. Mac was then attacked by two ME-109's from above and though damaged by their fire, safely force-landed on the cliffs near Folkestone. He was okay and returned to his Squadron. The incident was well documented by air and ground witnesses and in newspaper coverage. It is believed to be one of the few cases of deliberate "ramming", thus confirmed and illustrates the great determination which was felt by many pilots keen to destroy as many aircraft as possible and thus help prevent the dreaded invasion attempt.  K.W. "Mac" MacKenzie fought on with 501 and 247 Squadrons. He was shot down intruding and taken prisoner in September 1941. Credited with 11-1/2 destroyed and several damaged he survived the war, remained in the R.A.F. and was a chief instructor on Meteors amongst other appointments. He left the R.A.F. in 1967 to take up an aviation career in Africa, later retiring to live in Cyprus. He also served as secretary of the Battle of Britain Association. The first 109 he helped destroy on October 7, 1940 was recovered from the sea bed off Hythe 35 years later and is now preserved in the Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge."Mac" insisted that his fee from the production of this print be donated to the R.A.F. Benevolent fund. B.C.I. is donating an equal amount from the first prints sold.
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