• RAAF Airman Aircrew ~ Simply The Best ....
  • Boeing Globemaster C17-A ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Alenia Spartan C-27J ~ 35 Squadron ....
  • Airbus A330 ~ 33 Squadron ....
  • Boeing 707-338C ~ 33 Squadron ....
  • Boeing E-7A Hawkeye ~ 2 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130J ~ 37 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130H ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130E ~ 37 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Hercules C-130A ~ 36 Squadron ....
  • Pacific Aerospace CT4 ~ 1 Flying Training School ....
  • Bombardia Challenger CL604 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Beechcraft King Air 350 ~ 32 Squadron ....
  • BAC1-11 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Boeing 737 ~ 34 Squadron ....
  • Bell Iroquois UH-1H ~ 9 Squadron ....
  • De Havilland Caribou DHC-4 ~ 38 Squadron ....
  • Boeing Chinook CH-47 ~ 12 Squadron ....
  • Lockheed Orion P3 ~ 11 Squadron ....
  • Sikorski Blackhawk UH-60 ~ 9 Squadron ....
  • Douglas DC3 ~ Aircraft Research and Development Unit ....
  • Pilatus PC9 ~ 2 Flying Training School ....
  • Aermacchi MB-326H ~ Roulettes ....

Vale - Ian A MACKRILL, A3990, Navigator ....

Ian Mackrill was tragically killed on 19th March, 1957 in an aircraft crash during routine night circuits and landings at RAAF Station Fairbairn, Canberra, ACT.

Sergeant Ian Mackrill, A39901, joined the Royal Australian Air Force on 24th January 1955 and was sent to No 1 Basic Flying Training School at Uranquinty, New South Wales to undergo basic pilot training on No 21 Course.  Unfortunately Ian was unable to qualify solo in the required timeframe and consequently was transferred to the School of Air Navigation at East Sale where he commenced on No 13 Course on 8th August 1955.  Ian completed his navigation and bombing course on 29th March 1956 and was posted to No 38 T (Transport) Squadron, RAAF Station Fairbairn, Canberra.

On the night of 19th March 1957 whilst on SAR duties and performing circuits and bumps in Dakota A65-112, the port engine speed governor malfunctioned.  The pilots shut-down the engine, attempted to feather the propeller and banked the Dakota away from the hills to try and get back to the airfield at Fairbairn.

The propeller was rotating too slow to feather causing too much drag and the aircraft rolled, stalled, then crashed, exploding on impact inside the grounds of the Duntroon Military College. All four crewmen lost their lives; Pilots FLGOFF H. Macdonald and FSGT N. Charlton, Signaller SGT M. Coombe and Navigator SGT I. Mackrill.

Ian was born at 62 The Strand, Williamstown, which is situated about two kilometres from the south end of the Fishermans Bend airfield so he was always able to hear the sound of aircraft engines particularly during WW11.  This gave Ian a fascination for aircraft.  During WWII, Ian was a member of the Australian Air League for a number of years.

Ian′s other hobby was boating and ironically his first boat was half an aircraft belly tank in which he paddled around in the waters of The Strand with his mates. Ian later joined Hobsons Bay Yacht Club where he learned to sail and eventually he owned and raced his 12 sqm yacht with some success.

Prior to joining the RAAF Ian was a draftsman at Commonwetitleh Aircraft Factory at Fishermans Bend and at the time they were building the Avon Sabre.  A proud day for the staff was when FLTLT Bill Scott did some low runs over the factory for their benefit in the first production Sabre.

When Ian was a young boy he said to mum one day, ″I am going to own a boat and fly in an aeroplane″.  Ian did both of these and therefore achieved his goals.

I would like to thank the crew from the Richmond RAAF Base for re-discovering the site.  This enabled SQNLDR Dean Griffith to hold a beautiful memorial service for my wife and I on the 50th anniversary of the accident on 19th March 2007.  I also want to thank Mr Ross Howarth for organizing the plaque on the site to the memory of these four gallant young airmen.

Profile provided by Ian′s younger brother Douglas Mackrill email dbmackrill@bigpond.com

24 November 2011.