 Mackinolty was promoted in the field to flight sergeant in June 1916 , and mentioned in despatches on 19 October . When the Australian members of No. 30 Squadron were dispersed , he was posted to Kantara , Egypt , where he joined the newly established No. 2 Squadron AFC ( also numbered No. 68 Squadron RFC by the British ) . Commanded by Major Oswald Watt , the unit relocated to England in January 1917 . Following his service with No. 2 Squadron , Mackinolty was assigned to No. 5 ( Training ) Squadron AFC , which formed at Shawbury , Shropshire , in June 1917 . Praised for his organisational and leadership abilities , he was commissioned as an equipment officer in March 1918 , with the rank of second lieutenant . The following month he was given command of an aircraft repair unit in Minchinhampton , Gloucestershire , home of two squadrons of the AFC 's 1st Training Wing . 
