General News
4 July, 2026
Life of an airman
VETERAN'S VOICES: Bruce Calder McKenzie was born in Horsham on May 24, 1920.
He was the son of Alexander Keith and Florence McKenzie, and husband of Margaret Emily Thelma McKenzie, of Cromer, Norfolk, England.
Bruce’s hometown was listed as Launceston, and prior to enlistment, he lived in Geelong.
He was a student on enlistment at Geelong College and served in the Cadet Corps for four years.
He enlisted on April 26, 1941, in Melbourne at 24 years old.
On his Airman Record, Bruce was posted to 14 S.F.T.S - R.C.A.F (Service Flying Training School, Royal Canadian Airforce) Aylmer OTU (Operational Training Unit) on October 23, 1941.
14 S.F.T.S. Aylmer was among the 31 air training facilities located in Ontario, with a total of 96 across Canada.
The training school at Aylmer provided advanced flight instruction in single-seater fighter aircraft between 1941 and 1943.
Bruce embarked from Canada on February 28, 1942, disembarking in the UK on March 9, 1942, and was posted to 3 PRC (Personnel Reception Centre), Bournemouth, then posted to No 17 AFU (Air Force Unit) on April 29, 1942.
No. 17 Squadron flew defensive patrols from numerous bases in Britain until May 1940.
In August 1942, No. 17 Squadron upgraded to Hurricane Mk. IIcs.
Ground attack missions began in February 1943 and continued until August.
Bruce was posted with No. 56 Squadron from August 15, 1942, where he was in a training accident at Rickling, Norfolk, on January 20, 1943.
Bruce had been flying a Typhoon 1B Sabre 2 on a day blanketed in a thin layer of cloud while the squadron was in training when Flight Officer Bernard Coleman’s aircraft made contact with him.
From statements made by Bruce, Coleman’s aircraft drifted below his when they collided, ripping the entire tail section of Coleman’s aircraft off from the contact with Bruce’s propeller.
A hole was torn in the cockpit of Bruce’s aircraft, prompting him to jump out, breaking both his legs in the process.
Both aircraft crashed close to each other in a field, with Coleman’s bursting into flames on impact with the ground.
As a result of the accident, 27-year-old Australian Flight Officer Bernard Coleman was killed.
It was concluded by the Commanding Officers of RAF Station Coltishall on January 22, 1943, that no inquiry or investigation was necessary.
Bruce’s prognosis was good, and he made a return to full flying duties in six months.
After his recovery from the accident and taking leave, he was posted to Digby on December 17, 1943.
Royal Air Force Digby is a station located near Scopwick, south east of Lincoln, in Lincolnshire, England.
The station is home to the tri-service Joint Service Signals Organisation, part of the Joint Forces Intelligence Group of Joint Forces Command.
Formerly an RAF training and fighter airfield, it is one of England's older Royal Air Force stations.
On January 16, 1944, Bruce was on the general list of pilot officers and had trained in and flown Tiger Moths, Harvard MK2, Hurricane, Typhoon 1, and Tempest V aircraft.
He was posted to No. 3 Squadron as a Flying Officer on February 8, 1944.
On April 21, 1945, Flight Lieutenant Bruce McKenzie was detailed to carry out an armed reconnaissance in the Hamburg-Lubeck area over Germany.
Bruce’s aircraft, which was attached to No. 3 Squadron RAF, was leading a formation of 8 aircraft when it was hit by anti-aircraft fire during an attack on motor transport east of Hamburg.
The aircraft was streaming black smoke and climbing slightly to 2,000 feet, and his No.2 was obliged to take avoiding action from the anti-aircraft fire, unable to see Bruce any further.
A member of the same Squadron stated that the aircraft crashed 15 miles east of Hamburg as the formation was attacking transport on the Schwarenbek - Lavenburg road.
The ordeal was witnessed by a German farmer who stated that Bruce was thrown clear and killed instantly.
The Officers Commanding No. 3 Squadron sent a circumstantial report on Flight Lieutenant Bruce Calder McKenzie’s status while he was flying his aircraft, and reported he had been ‘hit by flak and went down on fire east of Hamburg. On fire. Is missing. No radio message and not seen afterwards'.
The incident was reported on April 21, 1945, and confirmation of Bruce’s death was sent to his father and next of kin, Alexander Keith.
Bruce’s wife, Margaret Emily Thelma McKenzie, was also notified.
In a later investigation by the RAF, the farmer, Herr Reese, who saw the aircraft crash and found the pilot’s remains, stated that at about 1430 hours on April 21, 1945, he saw an airman fall from his aircraft, after that aircraft had been hit by flak.
He went to where the airman lay on the ground.
The airman was dressed in blue overalls and a dark wool sweater.
Fran Reese, Herr Reese’s wife, informed the Investigating Officer, Sgt T Condon Squadron Leader, that she was told by a Wehrnacht Officer billeted with her at the time that the pilot was Australian.
The soldier told Herr Reese to bury the pilot where he lay.
Herr Reese returned to his farm and got a wagon with horses and intended to take the deceased pilot to a local cemetery.
When Herr came back, he found Polish displaced people were removing the pilots’ clothes.
He could not stop them as there were too many of them.
Herr Reese later wrapped the deceased pilot in blankets and took his remains to Schwarenbek, Wollnerstrasse, Germany, where he buried the airman in the Neuerkirkhef Cemetery.
Sgt T Cordon visited the cemetery, which was well kept, and the grave was marked with a small white cross, with an inscription on the bar that read “Allied Airman.”
A small service was held, and prayers were read by the local Evangelist Pastor.
It was decided after WWI in 1923 that the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who died all over Germany should be brought together into four permanent cemeteries.
The Hamburg Cemetery was nominated, with the Commonwealth section of the cemetery containing 1466 WWII burials.
Bruce’s body was exhumed, and he is now interred in the Hamburg Cemetery, Germany, with the word ‘forever’ inscribed on his headstone.
RAAF 401994 Flight Lieutenant Bruce Calder McKenzie was the last of seven Australians to be killed with No. 3 Squadron RAF between May 28, 1941, and April 21, 1945.
