|
Air Vice Marshal George John William Mackinolty, OBE (24 March 1895 – 24 February 1951) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Commencing his service in the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) as a mechanic during World War I, he rose to become the RAAF's chief logistics officer for more than twenty years. Mackinolty was born in Victoria and joined the AFC in 1914. He first saw active duty the following year in the Middle East with No. 30 Squadron Royal Flying Corps (formerly the Mesopotamian Half Flight). In 1916 he was mentioned in despatches and posted to No. 2 Squadron AFC. By the end of the war he had been commissioned a second lieutenant. Joining the newly formed RAAF in August 1921, Mackinolty established himself as the service's senior logistician between the wars, first as Director of Transport and Equipment from 1929 to 1935, and thereafter as Director of Equipment. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1937. Soon after the outbreak of World War II, he became Director of Supply and was promoted to group captain. In June 1942 he was raised to acting air commodore and appointed the Air Member for Supply and Equipment (AMSE). Promoted to air vice marshal in 1948, Mackinolty continued to serve as AMSE until his sudden death from cancer in February 1951, aged fifty-five. ==Early life and World War I== Born on 24 March 1895 at Leongatha, Victoria, Mackinolty was the son of labourer James Mickleburg Mackinolty and his wife Mary. He went to public schools, obtaining his merit certificate before undertaking formal engineering and business courses in Melbourne. Commencing his working life as a coach and motor-body builder, he enlisted in the Australian Military Forces on 17 August 1914, soon after the outbreak of World War I. His experience in motor transport resulted in a transfer as an air mechanic to Central Flying School (CFS) at Point Cook. Having gained a reputation for his skill with timber, he was promoted sergeant and given command of CFS's woodworking team.〔(Mackinolty, George John William (1895–1951) ) at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. Retrieved on 6 November 2009.〕〔Stephens; Isaacs, ''High Fliers'', pp. 104–107〕 On 1 August 1915, Mackinolty transferred to the Australian Imperial Force, to lead a team of thirteen other mechanics as reinforcements for an Australian Flying Corps contingent serving in the Mesopotamian campaign.〔 He departed Melbourne nine days later aboard RMS ''Persia'', and arrived at Basra on 1 September.〔(George John William Mackinolty ) at The AIF Project. Retrieved on 16 November 2009.〕〔Cutlack, (''The Australian Flying Corps'', p. 25 )〕 Mackinolty's team immediately joined No. 30 Squadron Royal Flying Corps (originally the Mesopotamian Half Flight AFC), which moved into the city of Kut after its capture by British Empire troops in the Battle of Es Sinn. The unit took part in the Battle of Ctesiphon in November, and organised supply drops to the British and Indian garrison in Kut during the siege that lasted from December 1915 until the following April.〔Stephens, ''The Royal Australian Air Force'', pp. 6–8〕〔Wilson, ''The Brotherhood of Airmen'', pp. 6–9〕 Promoted to flight sergeant, Mackinolty was mentioned in despatches on 19 October 1916.〔 When the Australian members of No. 30 Squadron were dispersed, he was posted to Kantara, Egypt, where he joined the newly established No. 2 Squadron AFC (also numbered No. 68 Squadron RFC by the British). Commanded by Major Oswald Watt, the unit relocated to England in January 1917.〔Stephens, ''The Royal Australian Air Force'', pp. 6–8,16–17〕〔(2 Squadron AFC ) at Australian War Memorial. Retrieved on 20 November 2011.〕 Following his service with No. 2 Squadron, Mackinolty was assigned to No. 5 (Training) Squadron AFC, which formed at Shawbury, Shropshire, in June 1917.〔(Air Vice-Marshals (L-Z) ) at Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved on 20 November 2011.〕〔(5 (Training) Squadron AFC ) at Australian War Memorial. Retrieved on 20 November 2011.〕 Praised for his organisational and leadership abilities, he was commissioned as an equipment officer in March 1918, with the rank of second lieutenant. The following month he was given command of an aircraft repair unit in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire,〔 home of two squadrons of the AFC's 1st Training Wing.〔Sutherland, ''Command and Leadership in War and Peace'', pp. 36–41〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「George Mackinolty」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|