An unsual post-war M.B.E. group of three awarded to Squadron Leader J. MacKenzie, Royal Air Force, late Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, a long-served Engineering Officer who oversaw important work in the development of the V-Force and in the introduction of the Skynet programme, the R.A.F’s first satellite in orbit

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, together with a set of related dress miniature medals, good very fine (6) £180-220

M.B.E. London Gazette 10 June 1948.

John MacKenzie was originally commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in October 1945, but obtained a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force after the War. Thereafter, as illustrated by an accompanying application for membership of the Royal Aeronautical Society, he served as an Engineer Officer, being ‘in the forefront of the development and introduction of advanced aircraft systems, and in the investigation, development and establishment of engineering management, methods and procedures required to deal with advanced projects. In the main fields of activity, especially reliability, my personal efforts have not only borne fruit within the R.A.F. but have also achieved significant long term results within the industry at large.’

MacKenzie goes on to list a number of interesting projects, including work as a Trial Development Officer with Transport Command 1946-48, for which he was awarded his M.B.E., mainly in respect of work in the field of aviation; the establishment of the R.A.F’s first engineering unit dedicated to the repair of radar / radio systems in 1952; employment in the pre-service development and trials of the Navigation and Development System of the V-Force 1955-61, including the conducting of intense flying trials for the Valiant bomber; attachment to the U.S.A.F. 1962-64, when he worked on the operational performance of B-47, B-52 and B-58 aircraft; founding of the R.A.F. Advanced Reliability Group 1964-65, work that contributed to the efficiency of the Harrier; appointment as Director of Signals in the M.O.D. 1969-71, when, in his own words, he ‘was responsible for the actual introduction to service of the Skynet military satellite communications system, including the space segment and the Earth stations at home and overseas ... in this connection I had the unique experience of signing for and accepting on behalf of the R.A.F. a satellite in orbit’.

Sold with the recipient’s original M.B.E. warrant, together with commission warrants for Pilot Officer, R.A.F.V.R., dated 4 October 1945, and Flying Officer, R.A.F., dated 15 January 1948; a small folio of photographs and scale drawing relevant to the Skynet military satellite system; and a newspaper feature from his time in the U.S.A. in the early 1960s.