Special to The Globe and Mail

Wednesday, October 2, 2002 – Print Edition, Page R11

RICHMOND HILL, ONT. -- Gordon MacKenzie, who landed a crippled Second World War bomber after ignoring an order to parachute out, has died in Richmond Hill, Ont., north of Toronto. He was 83.

Mr. MacKenzie was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his actions on the night of July 28, 1942.

Flight Sergeant MacKenzie was second pilot of a Wellington when it was attacked and severely damaged over the Dutch coast. He took the controls from his wounded captain, only to discover the bomber's starboard elevator was missing and its starboard tailplane was damaged.

As the plane neared the English coast, the engines began to sputter from a lack of fuel. The captain ordered the crew to parachute out. Even so, Flight Sgt. MacKenzie elected to stay with the aircraft and coaxed it down to a safe landing.

His medal was presented to him at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in February, 1943. "By his courage and skillful handling of his aircraft," the citation stated, "he saved a valuable aircraft and was largely responsible for the safe descent by parachute of his captain and crew."

His commanding officer praised his action as being "extremely courageous and determined."

Mr. MacKenzie had been a ledger keeper in Toronto when he enlisted on Dec. 10, 1940. After the war, he worked as a science teacher at high schools in the Toronto suburb of North York.

He leaves Mary, his wife of 55 years, a son and two daughters.

Gordon Thompson MacKenzie, airman, teacher; born in Fernhurst, Sussex, England, on April 27, 1919; died in Richmond Hill, Ont., on Sept. 11, 2002.