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 |
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) |
Help us honour Jack Lyle Macalister's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography 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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