Jack Lyle MACALISTER OBE, DFC

MACALISTER, Jack Lyle

Service Number: 390
Enlisted: 19 July 1938
Last Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Last Unit: No. 6 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 28 December 1917
Home Town: Essendon, Moonee Valley, Victoria
Schooling: Geelong College, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Commercial Pilot
Died: Natural Causes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 15 June 2010, aged 92 years
Cemetery: Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne
Cremated
Memorials: Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial
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World War 2 Service

19 Jul 1938: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 390

Non Warlike Service

19 Jul 1938: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Air Cadet, 390

World War 2 Service

22 Jun 1939: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, No. 1 FTS
4 Jul 1940: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, No. 25 Squadron (RAAF)
1 Jan 1941: Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, No. 6 Squadron (RAAF)
10 Mar 1942: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 390, 2 Squadron (RAAF)
23 Mar 1942: Imprisoned POW in Timor & subsequently Changi Singapore
30 Oct 1945: Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 390
30 Oct 1945: Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 390, No. 6 Squadron (RAAF)
25 Jun 1946: Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross
8 Jul 1947: Honoured Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Date unknown: Involvement Flight Lieutenant, 390, No. 6 Squadron (RAAF)

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Biography contributed by Graham Padget

Courtesy of  Geelong College Heritage Guide

Jack Lyle Macalister MBE DFC (1917-2010), airline pilot, was educated as a boarder at the College from 1932 to 1935 becoming a corporal of the Cadet Corps.
He was a good swimmer, becoming the Open Swimming Champion of the School in 1935 and also a member of the Swimming Committee.

After leaving School, he trained as a commercial pilot and joined the RAAF in July, 1938 earning the DFC during World War II. After an attack on Koepang aerodrome in Timor in March, 1942 during which his aircraft was shot down by Japanese fighter aircraft he was captured and imprisoned in Timor, later being transferred to Singapore. While a prisoner of war, he, with others, attempted to steal aircraft in Timor and Singapore resulting in his confinement in the notorious Outram Road Gaol. As a result of these escape attempts he was awarded the Medal of the British Empire (MBE) in 1947.

He gave evidence regarding War Crimes and some of his experiences are recounted in the book Hellfire by Cameron Forbes.

After the war he joined Australian National Airways (ANA) as a pilot, eventually becoming a senior pilot for Ansett Airlines. He retired in 1982. (OGC 1931)

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