Companion of the Distinguished Service Order DSO, Part 4, Mc & M.

Instituted in 1886 for

“Acts of gallantry by Military Officers for which a
Victoria Cross was not considered appropriate”.

During 1914 to 1916 some were awarded in conditions
that could not be considered under fire.

Many were awarded to Squadron Commanders for a long
period of leadership, but in some cases, it was awarded to
a Junior Officer for one operation.

Prior to 1943, the award could only be awarded to someone
who had been Mentioned in Dispatches”.

In 1942 the regulations were amended to allow the award
to be made to officers of the Merchant Navy for gallantry
in the presence of the enemy.

Total issued up to 1983
1291 plus 113 First Bars and 18 Second Bars

Over 300 DSO’s were awarded to New Zealanders
during both World Wars.

Description

The Cross is of gold, enamelled white, with gold edges.

Having on one side, in the centre,
within a wreath of Laurel enamelled green,
The Imperial Crown in Gold.

On the Reverse, within a similar wreath,
and upon a similar ground,
The Royal Cypher.

It hangs from its ribbon by a gold clasp
ornamented with Laurel.

While a similar clasp is worn at the top
of the ribbon.

The ribbon is 32mm wide

Membership is only open to commissioned officers
or their equivalents

W/C J J McKay, 40404
DSO, DFC, DFC [US]

2nd June 1916 to

Joined RNZAF in 1937,

Had completed 37 operations over enemy territory by the
end of 1940,

Promoted to Temp. W/C on 12th November 1944

Senior Air Staff Officer at Air HQ Levant 1944

CO No 204 Wing MAAF 1944 to 45

Substantive W/C 1st January 1951

A W/C DFC [US] 19th October 1944

DSO 15 Jan 43 on 178 Sqn

A W/C MID January 1946

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GC A McKee -RAF-, 24042
KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC, AFC

10th January 1902 to 8th December 1988

Enlisted in RAF on 15th January 1927,

Posted to No 27 Squadron in India as a P/O
Promoted to F/O 4th July 1928

Promoted to F/L on 1st February 1932

Posted as Flight Commander to No 99 Squadron
on 8th November 1932

Posted to No 58 Squadron

Granted a permanent Commission as F/L on 1st June 1936

Posted as Adjutant of No 500 [County of Kent] Squadron
Auxiliary Air Force on 19th November 1936

Promoted to S/L on 1st October 1937

Posted as Flight Commander, No 99 Squadron on
8th November 1937,

Posted to Air Staff HQ No 3 Group on 28th October 1938

Posted as CO No 9 Squadron on 17th January 1940

Promoted to Temp. W/C on 1st June 1940

Posted to CO RAF Marham in 1941

Posted to CO RAF Downham Market in 1942

Promoted to Temp G/C 1st September 1942

Promoted to Acting A/C 24th March 1943

Promoted to G/C [War Standing] on 24th September 1943

Substantive W/C on 1st December 1943

Promoted to Air Officer Commanding No 295 Group
on 30th April 1945

Promoted to Substantive G/C on 1st January 1946

Promoted to Temp. A/C in 1st January 1946

Posted to Senior Air Staff at HQ Middle East Air
Force in 1946

Promoted to Substantive A/C 1st July 1947

Commandant of the Officer Advanced Training School
on 17th December 1947

To Commandant of the RAF Flying College on 17th June 1949.

Promoted to Acting AVM on 6th July 1951

Air Officer Commanding No 21 Group on 6th July 1951

Promoted substantive AVM on 1st January 1952

Followed by Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ RAF Bomber
Command on 19th October 1953

His Final post was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at
RAF Transport Command on 15th October 1955, and saw
the introduction of the Comet 2.

Promoted to AM on 1st January 1957

In 1957 he took part in a 7 weeks tour of South America, the tour
Covered 14 Countries, 72 flying hours and 32,000 miles

Retired in 1959

Became Deputy Chairman of National Airways Corporation and
a Director of Air New Zealand.

F/O MID on 26th June 1931

S/L AFC on 8th June 1939

S/L DFC on February 1940

T W/C MID on 1st January 1941

G/C DSO on 26 June 1942 since being awarded the DFC this
Officer has completed 15 sorties including an attack on
Hamburg on 17th April 1942.

The excellent performance of the Squadrons on his station can
largely be attributed to his personal example, both from
operations against the enemy and the organization of his
maintenance and crew training.

This Officer does not allow his zeal for operations interfere
with his duties as an administrator, yet he undertakes
sufficient operations to keep himself completely up to date.

G/C MID 2nd June 1943

G/C CBE on 1st January 1944

A AM CB on 7th June 1951

A A/M KCB on 1 January 1957 while C in C Transport Command

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S/L, H D McGregor,
KCB, CBE, DSO LofM [US]

15th February 1910 to 11th April 1973

Joined the RAF in 1928,

Posted to No 3 Flying Training School Grantham on
28th April 1928,

Posted to 111 Squadron at Hornchurch on 2nd April 1929.

Posted to No 407 [Fleet Fighter] Flight on HMS
Courageous on 20th January 1931.

Posted to the Home Aircraft Depot at Henlow on 5th August
1931 for a Specialist Engineering Course.

Posted to the School of Naval Co-operation, Lee-on-Solent
on 24th July 1933. followed by
HQ Coastal Command, Engineering Section on 22nd August 1934.

Posted to the Air Ministry, in the Directorate of Repair and
Maintenance from 30th April 1936 to September 1938.

Posted as CO of No 33 Squadron in Heliopolis.

In March 1939 the Squadron began policing duties at Lydda,
with small detachments at strategic points.

They assisted the ground forces to round up armed tribesmen,
who were terrorizing certain areas.

The tactics were successful and order was restored by June 1939.

Posted to No 5 Operational Conversation Unit for a refresher
Course and converted to Hurricanes.

Posted to No 213 Squadron, flying Hurricanes from Biggin Hill
on 28th May 1940.

On the 31st May he was on a patrol over Dunkirk and was shot
down, he parachuted into the middle of a minefield,
He managed to find his way out and returned to the UK on a ship
from Dunkirk.

He claimed a Ju 88 Destroyed and a Ju 88 Damaged
on 11th August 1940, and a Me 110 Destroyed on the
12th August and a Ju 88 Damaged on the 20th August.

Posted off the Squadron in September 1940.

Posted to Special Planning Staff in 1940 to 1941

Posted as CO RAF Ballyhalbert in 1941

Senior Air Staff Officer 82 Fighter Group 1941

Posted as OC Tangmere from 1942 to June 1943.

Posted as G/C Deputy Director Operations Intelligence
and Plans Mediterranean Allied Air Force June 1943
to April 1944, on the Staff of ACM Sir Arthur Tedder

In April 1944 he took an important part in the negotiations
at the time of the Italian Armistice, concerning the handing
over of the Italian Air Force.

Air Officer Commanding Levant from 1945 to 46

Imperial Defence College in 1947

Air Ministry in 1948 to 49

NATO Standing Group in Washington DC 1950 to 51

Air Officer Commanding No 2 Group, Germany 1951 to 53

Director of Guided Missile Development, Ministry of
Supply in 1953 to 55

Assistant Controller of Aircraft in Ministry of Supply in 1956

Chief of Staff [Air Defence] in Supreme Headquarters Allied
Powers in Europe [SHAPE] in Paris 1957 to 59

Air Officer in Command in Chief Fighter Command 1959 to 62

Commander-in-Chief Far East Air Force 1962 to 64

Retired on 27th September 1964

DSO in 1940 for his assistance in controlling armed terrorists
On No 33 Squadron in Egypt

MID 1st January 1942

CBE in June 1945

L of M [US] in April 1944

CB in 1953

KCB in 1960

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W/C, E H [Sam] McHardy, NZ 42139
DSO, DFC, & Bar,

24th June 1920 to 1986

Tried to join the Navy but the examinations had been held, so
he applied to join the RAF and sailed for the UK on 1st February 1939
on the RMS Tainui

Commenced training at No 10 E & RFTS [Elementary & Refresher
Flying Training School] on 16th March 1939.

Moved to No 5 Flying Training School at Sealand on 30th May 1939.

Posted to No 248 Squadron at Hendon on 6th November 1939
flying Blenheim 1F [a fighter conversion of the light bomber.]

The Squadron moved to North Coates in Lincolnshire and changed to
More modern Blenheim 1VF’s

The Squadron was transferred to Coastal Command.

On 18th May 1940, on a trawler escort mission off Zeebrugge
he claimed a Me110 Destroyed and Shared a He 111

The Squadron did most of its work over the Norwegian
Coast.

On the 27th July, he flew to Trondheim to photograph the
Gneisenau in the harbour there.

He had to go below the clouds at 10,000 feet and was met by
heavy flak

The Squadron converted to Beaufighters in July 1940

He was appointed 'A' Flight Commander on 1st October 1940.

On 3rd November 1940, he claimed a He 111 Damaged.

Posted to No 404 RCAF Squadron at Skitten on 21st July 1941
flying Beaufighters, as B Flight Commander.

On 21st December 1941, he was the RAF Representative and
Fighter Controller on the combined operations on Vaagso.

He was flown to Scapa Flow and embarked on the cruiser
HMS Kenya,

After entering the Fiord at dawn, the Commandos landed under
cover of a barrage from the ships and a smoke screen.
McHardy directed the Fighters by R/T from the Bridge of
HMS Kenya.

On the 16th January 1942, he claimed a Probable Destroyed
He 111, and a Damaged Ju 88 on the 22nd April 1942.

On the 17th May 1942, No 404 Squadron escorted Beauforts
on an attack on the German Battleship Prinz Eugen off Norway.

As the Squadrons withdrew he saw a Beaufighter ditch and the
crew take to the water without a dingy, so he circled and dropped
his own.

The crew was Free French Air Force and he was awarded the
Croix-de-Guerre in 1949 for his actions

Promoted to CO 404 RCAF Squadron on 14th July 1942 until
17th October, when, with his tour completed, he was posted to
RAF Ferry Command at Prestwick, and began flying B24
Liberators to and from West Africa.

He was then posted to Para Belem in Brazil for the Atlantic
Ferry Service.

Later, in August 1943, he was in charge of the B24 Liberator
unit that operated from Florida and Nassau carrying urgent
supplies across the South Atlantic and brought back Ferry crews

He returned to operations on 20th November 1943.

As a W/C, he took Command of No 143 Squadron at Portreath

On the 12th December 1943, he claimed 2 Ju 88, destroyed over
the Bay of Biscay, while at North Coats, flying Beaufighters on
Anti-Shipping Patrols.

"We had been flying along the Dutch Coast for 40 miles or so
in a sea mist, as we emerged we sighted two enemy ships.

They didn’t have time to do anything.

All the aircraft swept into an attack and an avalanche of
cannon fire struck the ships.

There was some Flak thrown up at us and some of the
Beaufighters were struck, causing a few casualties.

In a few brief moments, the attack was over and we were
heading home, leaving one ship burning furiously, a big pile
of deck cargo as well as the ship was well alight,

The other ship, after an explosion had shaken the insides
out of her, was lying obscured by a pall of smoke.

All the aircraft returned safely.

With his third tour completed, he was sent to RAF Staff College at
Gerrards Cross on 8th January 1945

Posted to HQ No 46 Group, Transport Command on 9th July 1945
for Staff Duties.

He retired from the RAF at his own request on 7th May 1958
and returned to NZ

DFC on 19th March 1941 for being a Cool, Determined,
and Courageous pilot who has displayed great
keenness over many months of operational flying

Bar to DFC on 15th June 1942 for devotion to duty

DSO 22 August 1944

MID 1st January 1943
Croix de Guerre [French] in 1949, for dropping his own dingy
to a ditched Free French Air Force Beaufighter on
17th May 1942

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A W/C, R M MacKenzie NZ 40245
DSO, DFC, AFC,

8th September 1916 to

Joined the RAF on 23rd August 1937

Posted to No 46 Squadron, flying Beaufighters in the
Night Fighter role,

With P/O Craig as his Radio Observer, they were successful
in early June 1942, they claimed a He 111 bomber destroyed
near Alexandria, and a few weeks later, another destroyed into
the sea off Aboukir, in September they claimed another He 111
Destroyed, it crashed within sight of the Allied Airfields.

CO No 227 Squadron 1943 in the Middle East

Training Staff at HQ Middle East in 1944

Transferred to RNZAF on 1st January 1944

Transferred to RAF in 1947

Promoted to W/C 1st January 1952

DSO 12 November 1943 on No 83 Squadron

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A S/L, E D Mackie,
DSO, DFC, & Bar,

31st October 1917 to 28th April 1986

Joined the RNZAF in January 1941,

Posted to No 485 [NZ] Squadron flying Spitfires in
early 1942

On 26th March 1942, he shared Destroying a Me 109
and a month later a Probable Fw 190, he was hit in the
wing by Flak in this tussle but returned to his home
Station safely,

Posted to No 243 Squadron in North Africa, flying
Spitfire Mk V’s.

He was shot down over Pont du Fahs area on the
24th April 1942 and managed to return to Allied lines,
on foot, the next day.

On the 7th April 1942, the Squadron intercepted 15 Ju 87’s
with Me 109 escorts.

The Squadron destroyed 5, of which Mackie claimed 2.

Three days later he claimed another Me 109 destroyed and
in the following month, 2 Destroyed and a share of a third.

In June 1943 the Squadron was moved to Malta to prepare
for the Invasion of Sicily.

He was promoted to Acting S/L and Command of the Squadron

A Me 109 was claimed Destroyed on 4th July, another Me 109 on
5th July and 2, Ju 87’s on the 13th July 1943.

In November 1943 he was posted as CO of No 82 Squadron.

In February 1944, he was posted back to the UK, for a rest having
completed his tour of operations.

Posted to No 274 Squadron, flying Tempests, from Volkel, in the
Netherlands, in December 1944.

On the 24th December, he claimed a Fw 190 destroyed over the
Malmendy area.

Early in January 1945, he was given command of No 80 Squadron
at Volkel and destroyed a Fw 190 near Hanover on the 7th March 1945.

Posted as Wing Leader of No 122 Wing in April 1945.

Claimed 2 Arado Ar 96 trainers on the 9th April and shared a
Fw 190 on the 15Th April 1945.

On the 4th May 1945, he led 486 [NZ] Squadron over the
Kiel-Haderslev area where they claimed 3 Fi 156 destroyed on
the ground

Mackie scored 20 Destroyed, 3 shared Destroyed,
2 Probable, 10 Damaged and 1 shared Damaged while flying the Spitfire
Mk V and V111, and 6.5 Destroyed while flying the Tempest.

He retired from the RNZAF and became Chief Inspector
of the Tauranga Power Board.

Max Avery and Christopher Shores published a biography
“Spitfire Leader” focusing on Mackie’s war service

DFC in May 1942 on No 243 Squadron

Bar to DFC in April 1942 on No 243 Squadron

DSO on 8 May 1945 as Wing Leader No 122 Wing

DFC [US] in July 1945

A S/L, G L Mandeno 64937
DSO, DFC, & Bar,

5th June 1915 to 10th April 2008

Joined the RAF in 1940

to 58 Squadron

Posted to No 156 Squadron

Posted to No 139 Squadron

Transferred to RNZAF as a F/L on 1st July 1945

DFC in June 1943

Bar to DFC in February 1944

A S/L DSO on 2 January 1945 on No 139 Squadron
A fine example of skill and gallantry in operations against
the enemy including 12 attacks on Berlin,

Cross of Merit [Poland] January 1945

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F/O, N J Matich,
DSO, DFM,

DSO 19 May 44 on 35 Sqn

A W/C, R D Max,
DSO, DFC, Croix De Guerre

1918 to 1st July 2007

Joined the RNZAF in 1937

Transferred to the RAF in 1938 on a short-term commission.

He flew Fairey Battles on No 103 Squadron during the
Battle of France, where he was awarded the Croix-de-Guerre.

The Squadron re-equipped with Wellingtons and took part
in a large raid on Brest, while the German Battle Ships
Gneisenau, Scharnhorst and Prinz Eugen were there.

He was posted to the Atlantic Ferry Service followed by
An Operational Training Unit.

Posted as CO to No 75 [NZ] Squadron in August 1943
while they were flying Stirlings at Mepal.
The Squadron re-equipped with Lancasters during the
period he was CO.

He returned to NZ in 1945.

Returned to the RAF in 1947

Promoted to G/C

Retired in 1968

W/C, DSO on 14 July 1944 on 75 Sqn for his leadership
while on the Squadron

DFC for his actions in a raid against Brest,
[Gneisenau, Scharnhorst, and Prinz Eugen]

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S/L, D Miller, NZ 402207

DSO, DFC,

12th November 1918 to 24th March 2009

Joined the RNZAF and went to the UK in 1941.

Posted to No 50 Squadron, flying Hampdens

Posted to No 25 Operational Training Unit, flying Wellingtons
[Did the first 3 x 1,000 bomber raids on No 25 OTU]

Posted to No 49 Squadron flying Lancasters

He completed 2 tours of operations

He remained in the UK and joined BOAC after the war.

He flew with them for a further 28 years, progressing from
Yorks to Constellations and Boeing 707’s

A F/L DFC on 25th June 1942 for Gallantry displayed
in flying operations against the enemy

A S/L DSO on 12th May 1944 on 49 Squadron, since
receiving the DFC he has flown many sorties
against the enemy, including 5 against Berlin
and 3 against Hanover

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P/O, V S Moore, NZ 404924
DSO, DFC, DFM,

15th December 1912 to November 1969

Joined the RNZAF on 1st December 1940.

Posted to No 57 Squadron, flying Wellingtons.

Posted to No 83 [Path Finder Force] Squadron flying
Lancasters.

Posted to No 692 Squadron flying Mosquito.

On the night of 18th July 1944, while attacking Berlin in a
Mosquito he was coned by searchlights and repeatedly
attacked by German Night Fighters.

To escape both Searchlights and Night Fighters he dived
at almost 500 MPH.

The following day the aircraft was examined by the engineers
who could find nothing wrong, even though the Aircraft had
been flown well beyond the recommended speed limit.

He flew at least 120 operations during his wartime career,
36 with No 57 Squadron, 24 with No 83 Squadron,
1 with No 139 Squadron, 8 with No 1409 Met Flight and
51 with No 692 Squadron.

Late in the War, he was attached to BOAC, flying C47/DC-3
Dakotas

Retired on 29th April 1946

Flew with BOAC

flew with Nigeria Airways
flying its VC 10 5N - ABD that crashed in November 1969

F/S DFM awarded on 4th August 1942, on No 57 Squadron,
flying Wellingtons, on 29th June 1942, after a mission
to Bremen in bad weather, on the return flight, to avoid
the heavy clouds he descended to about 300 feet, allowing
his gunners to machine gun towns and factories en-route
Shortly after crossing the Coast, considerable anti-aircraft
fire was encountered from 3 armed ships.

The Starboard wing was hit and set on fire, but he turned
and attacked the 3 E-Boats.

The fire spread and the aircraft could not maintain altitude
he was compelled to ditch into the sea.

With 2 of his crew, they were rescued some 37 hours later.

DSO on 8th June 1943, on No 83 [Path Finder Force] Squadron,
Flying Lancasters.
Since the award of the DFM, this Officer has completed a large
number of missions, always attacking the target with skill and
determination.

DFC on 15th August 1944, on No 35 [PFF] Squadron, attached
to No 692 [Mosquito] Squadron
He has completed a very large number of operations since being
awarded the DSO.
Through a long career of operational flying, he has proved
himself a fearless and resolute Captain of aircraft.

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S/L N J Mowat,

18th September 1918 to 7th November 1946

Joined the RAF in 1938 and sailed to the UK
on RMS Rangitiki on the 19th November 1938

Did his flying training at No 9 Elementary and Refresher
Flying Training School at Aristy, No 10 Flying Training
School at Tern Hill on 4th March 1939 and completed
his training at No 6 Flying Training School at Little
Rissington.

Posted to join No 245 Squadron that was being formed
at Leconfield, flying Bristol Blenheims, and later, Fairey Battles.

By March 1940 these were replaced by Hurricanes

Appointed a Flight Commander on 18th April 1940

Near Dunkirk, on 1st June 1940, he claimed a Probable Me 109.

A successful attack was made on the German airfield at
Rouen-Boos on the 20th June 1940 when he led a section
of 3 Hurricanes doing considerable damage to the 50 aircraft
on the ground.

Posted to No No 607 Squadron at Drem as a Flight Commander
On 17th March 1941.

Promoted to CO No 607 Squadron on 3rd December 1941.

He led the Squadron in operations against the Scharnhorst and
Gneisenau on the 12th February 1942 and was personally
responsible for the destruction of a vessel in the convoy.

The Squadron was posted to India on the 21st March 1942 and
sailed on the Empress of Russia, from Liverpool.

By 20th June they were receiving their Hurricane 11 C’s at Alipore.

The Squadron was advanced to Jessore, Burma, to begin operations
against the Japanese along the Irrawaddy in mid-July 1942.

On 1st October 1942, he was appointed Wing Leader of No 166 Wing
At Chittagong.

Posted to CO No 607 Squadron again on 5th March 1943.

In April he was posted to begin a series of Staff positions at
Air HQ Bengal, 3rd TAF Air Command South East Asia, Air HQ India
and Base HQ Bombay.

Posted back to the UK in August 1944 and sent to Fighter Leaders
School at Milfield.

Posted as Station Commander at Peterhead on 2nd December 1944.

After a further series of Staff positions in 1945, he was posted to
HQ 2nd TAF on 1st April 1946

On the 24th June 1946, he was given Command on No 4 Squadron
at Gutersloh, Germany.

On the 7th November 1946 he was a passenger in Anson C Mk 19
TX 175 of No 2 Group Communication Squadron which crashed
near Hamm, Germany, after hitting 2 chimneys while low flying
in bad weather on a flight from Gutersloh to the UK.

F/L M R Harwood RNZAF, F/O C K Allan
F/O J A Butler F/O A S Pinnion
F/S G W H Barkham Cpl A MacDonald

DSO on 17th March 1942 on 607 Squadron

MID 1st January 1941

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Part 1 A to C
Part 2 D to F
Part 3 G to I
Part 4 J to L

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner