MacKay, George Chisolme

Survived 1917-11-02

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date

Born: Sunderland, Ontario

Charles J Mackay & Evaline MacKay

Home: Mimico, Ontario

Enlistment: Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment Date: 1916-05-23

Decorations: DFC, CDGF, LoH, Order of Leopold (Belgium)

Distinguished Service Cross Croix de Guerre France

Service

RAF

Unit

213 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RNAS)

Base

Rank

Captain

Position

Captain

Service Numbers

490805 CEF

Home
Google MapMimico, Ontario
MacKay lived in Mimico, Ontario, and enlisted in the University Training Company CEF in 1916. After flight training and travelling overseas, he joined 13(N) Squadron (later 213). There, he was the most successful of the many Canadian pilots who flew with the squadron. He served there from 1917-11-02 until 1918-09-15 when he was wounded and taken off the Squadron's strength. During this time frame he flew over three hundred hours of combat flying time and was promoted to Captain, also serving as a Flight Commander. He accounted for 18 enemy aircraft making him the leading pilot in the squadron.

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Camel D9648

Male Head

Captain MacKay, George Chisolme (RAF)
pilot
Survived
1917-November-02
cemetery unknown

Sopwith Camel

By unknown RAF photographer - gallery link image link, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8473883

The Sopwith Camel became the most successful British fighter of the First World War. The Sopwith F.1 and 2F.1 Camel first went into operations on the Western Front in 1917 and then served in virtually every theatre of Royal Flying Corps (RFC), Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and Royal Air Force (RAF) service. Several Canadian aces used the Camel as their mount. The Camel was very manoeuvrable, and it could be tricky to fly in the hands of a novice pilot. For experienced pilots, however, the aircraft proved to be a superb fighter.

The Camel's machine-guns were mounted on the forward fuselage with their breeches enclosed in a faired metal cowling "hump" that gave the Camel its name. Several Camels were also shipped to Canada in the post-war period as part of an Imperial gift. Three registered Sopwith F.1 Camels entered service with the RCAF at Camp Borden in 1924. The following year, the RCAF purchased seven additional aircraft to provide further spares for the active aircraft. These latter aircraft were in fact 2F.1 models that had been "navalized" variants. Used primarily by wartime experienced fighter pilots for refresher training, the Camels lasted another five years before finally being scrapped.Wikipedia

YouTube Sopwith Camel

Wikipedia Wikipedia Sopwith Camel

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrel Publications Sopwith Camel - Kestrel Publications