In June 1943 the squadron moved to Malta to participate in the invasion of Sicily. Mackie was promoted to acting squadron leader and given command of the unit. A Bf 109 was claimed on 4 July (of II./&lt;a href="JG%2077%20and%20another%20Bf%20109%20of%20I./%5B%5BJG%2053%5D%5D%20on%205%20July"&gt;JG 77 and another Bf 109 of I./[[JG 53]] on 5 July&lt;/a&gt;)—possibly Herbert Broennle who was killed in action—while two Italian-flown Junkers Ju 87 of 121 "Gruppo" and a Reggiane Re.2002 of 5 "Stormo" were shot down on 13 July. In November he was posted to command No. 92 Squadron, returning, tour-expired, to the United Kingdom in February 1944.