Remembering those who fought in the skies over Europe

The Story of Cec Mazlin

Few Australian soldiers fought in Europe in World War 2 however the RAAF, including thousands of Australians who were posted to RAF squadrons, made a significant contribution to the bombing of Germany and patrolling of allied shipping in the Atlantic. The air war in the European theatre claimed the lives of 5488 RAAF airmen.

One of those who was fortunate to return home was Flying Officer Cecil Graham Mazlin 018007 (434989) whose flying logbook was recently loaned to the Proserpine Museum. Cec Mazlin served in the Royal Australian Air Force undertaking 50 combat missions in the skies over Europe in World War 2.

Born in Proserpine on July 24, 1924, to parents, Cecil Evelyn Mazlin and Kathleen Doris nee Ledlie, Cec, as he was known, attended Proserpine State School and completed his education at Brisbane Boys’ College and Thornborough College. Upon leaving school, he worked as a clerk for CC Wakefield Oil Company in the Valley in Brisbane.

After about a year with the company, Cec left to join the RAAF enlisting on February 25 1943 as Air Crew V with the rank ACII. His initial training was in Kingaroy after which he went to Wireless and Gunnery School in Maryborough and Bomb and Gunnery School in Evans Head. Cec graduated in November 1943 as a Sergeant Wireless Operator Air Gunner.

In Sydney, in December 1943, Cec boarded the steamer “Willard A Holbrook” bound for San Francisco. After crossing the USA by train and eventually embarking on the “Queen Elizabeth”, the troops arrived in Glasgow then travelled by train to Brighton for conversion courses on Ansons, Wellingtons, Halifaxes and Lancasters. In March 1944, he was reclassified to Wireless Operator (Air).

In October 1944, Flight Sergeant Cec Mazlin was posted to 100 SQN RAF (a subsidiary of 460 SQN – Australian) at Waltham, outside Grimsby. This was a British Squadron into which RAAF crews were seconded to boost numbers. There were three major operational commands in the RAF – Bomber Command; Fighter Command and Transport Command. Cec and his crew flew 35 successful combat missions operating Lancaster bombers over Germany - a significant achievement considering that for RAAF members in RAF Bomber Command, more than one in three were killed. (Source: Australian War Memorial)

Cec and his crew were then posted for instructional duties however the men did not like this, so they volunteered for Pathfinders (PFF) and were posted to the south of England. After a couple of trips, someone discovered that their skipper did not have adequate eyesight for a pilot!

Cec then applied for a transfer back to 100 SQN where he joined a Canadian crew and completed 15 more combat missions before war’s end. Just prior to the end of the war, he was promoted to Warrant Officer. Cec and his crew then flew to Europe where they participated in the Berlin airlift operation to help repatriate ex-POWs to the UK. In September 1945, he was commissioned as an Officer with the rank of Pilot Officer while on a posting to Headquarters in Brighton where he spent five months.

Pilot Officer Cecil Graham Mazlin embarked for return to Australia in November 1945 and was demobbed in February 1946. After his return to Australia, he was promoted to Flying Officer. He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, and the Returned from Active Service Badge.

Back in Australia, Cec returned to Wakefields. In 1949, he married Ailsa Johnson, and they moved to Proserpine where he worked as a clerk for Briggs and Mazlin before buying into part of the firm then branching out on his own. Cec and Ailsa had three children – Joanne, Graham and Warren.

Cecil Graham Mazlin passed away on November 8, 1991. He is buried in the Proserpine Cemetery.

LEST WE FORGET

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum and Cec Mazlin’s son, Warren Mazlin. Information also sourced from “The Proserpine News 1939 – 1945 WWII” by Lyn Burke and Lloyd Fox

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Cec Mazlin. Photo supplied.

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