THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

MacRAE Alexander Bulkley

temp Lieutenant (A), Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, WW2

CITATION

Distinguished Service Order

Gazetted 31 July 1945

For gallantry, skill and marked devotion to duty in air strikes in the Far East.  In a fighter sweep over Ishigaki airfield, Lieutenant (A) MacRae, RNZNVR, leader of 1839 Squadron from HMS Indomitable, was severely wounded in the right thigh by “flak”, but continued to press home his attack.  Not until his squadron resumed its patrol did he announce that he was returning wounded to his ship.  Encouraged on the radio telephone by the flight direction officer, he flew alone more than 100 miles back to the Indomitable.  When he arrived over the ship, MacRae found he could not lower the undercarriage of his damaged fighter, but though his right leg was useless and he was weak from loss of blood, he made a perfect crash landing.

KNOWN AWARDS

Distinguished Service Order

1939-45 Star

Pacific Star

War Medal 1939-45

New Zealand War Service Medal

NOTES

Born 30 July 1921, Pahiatua, New Zealand

Died 7 August 2004 New Zealand