squadron leader april july royal_air_force raf fighter pilot flying ace second world war credited german italian aircraft shot approximately missions night achieved malta france born joined raf aged march progressed quickly flight training granted commission acting pilot officer completed flight training early considerable time gain experience operational types outbreak second world war began serving squadron raf flying battle light bomber credited enemy aircraft damaged awarded surviving battle transferred fighter pilot school summer served squadron raf squadron raf achieved probable victory battle late transferred malta joined squadron raf february achieved victories night awarded bar february wounded action february arm severely damaged returned operations november artificial limb joined squadron raf squadron leader led night fighter operations defence britain awarded claiming victories flying coupled malta qualified night fighter ace july tally stood enemy aircraft shot including night left squadron position october departed conduct tours united_states returned britain june joined squadron raf cross channel patrols europe achieved victories operations mission bring final tally july flying hit german suffered engine failure crashed france germans reported prisoner war died military hospital injuries awarded second bar july course combat career flew battle early life born april second children wife helen née lived family home hugh employed oil chemical manufacturer premature death following father death family moved southampton close helen parents father connected plymouth china inland mission missionary field influence resulted james king edward evangelical school years completing preliminary education james boarded september aged james brothers gordon follow institution academically talented poetry attracted trouble school masters forming rhymes contemporaries members staff played rugby enjoyed rowing generally child enjoyed wildlife animals encouraged fascination biology regularly supplied rabbits specimens laboratory appointed rise notable rank james preferred engage metal work friends built manufactured pistol workshops test fired keen acquire real obtained service revolver shot hand eager adventure contemplated future travelled scotland holiday near went flight raf open day according mother mind pilot gained gained entry royal_air_force raf short service commission month short 18th birthday march early raf career march arrived wiltshire run assigned flight uncomfortable military use religious complained bills applicants forced pay mess bills reportedly week laundry salary expended given time settle flight march gained minute experience open cockpit flew solo time march rapidly coming trainer wrote glad hear went solo today sharp slow roll pretty grim upside feet air ground simply love flying youngest group solo hours dual flight passed average grade pilot april come second overall examinations travelled following month commissioned acting pilot officer service number posted lincolnshire flew time enjoyed speed aircraft immensely passion motor cars buying austin nottingham pay despite getting lost navigational exercises passed average pilot probation passed choice type squadron wanted fly chose list medium bomber light bomber squadrons proceeded advanced flying training school gloucestershire school practised dive bombing level bombing attacks exercised close air support operations rounded training near armament training camp november passed average pilot promptly posted squadron raf read hours flying credit like bomber training letter mother described grievances started bombing today awful lie belly look plane hot air blows straight face makes feel sick enthusiastic describing mathematical problems associated aerial bombing use cameras judge accuracy live munitions air air gunnery wrote training air air gunnery guns today super live ammunition end training permitted train bombs cost number squadron new unit expansion schemes late 1930s designed increase number aircraft response threat joined squadron december equipped battle flew aircraft time december march commission pilot officer confirmed joined armament training station northumberland engage formation flying aerial gunnery bombing practice practiced mock attacks time war broke september years experience flying machine second world war september germany invaded poland squadron moved france september britain allies declared war following day squadron formed commanded air vice marshal september squadron based southeast time luftwaffe heavily engaged poland small scale skirmishes fought thin german fighter screen left guard western germany french attack september elements squadron intercepted fighters fighter wing border battle aircraft shot september squadron lost battles missions german quickly clear crews battle slow poorly armed defend operations shut squadron took measures increase defensive power adding machine gun cockpit observer use october promoted flying officer undertook attack mission course flight contact ground able return base squadron settled winter quarters march reassigned french border region spain april celebrated 21st birthday took opportunity driving frontier celebrate april squadron alert germans invaded denmark norway squadron soon relocated northern france war came close german invasion western_europe squadron action day campaign battle squadrons suffered high losses attacking german ground forces squadron airfield came air attack day destroyed aircraft night attack bombed aircraft lost attacking german_army columns daylight hours flew sortie german thrust threatened south north breaking centre advancing english channel fell breaking west bank desperate halt attacks general commander consultation air vice marshal commander ordered available units attack squadron committed air offensive aircraft attacked armoured column positions attacked bridges aircraft lost despite heavy anti aircraft fire german fighter opposition attacked got away low altitude allied units suffered percent losses day airfield hit twice squadron moved near squadron flew night operations owing german air superiority flew raid french belgian border action support allied forces battle belgium ordered fly daylight missions near german units seen moving squadron claimed german tank destroyed low level flying impress observer said member squadron don want killed care crew going ask commanding officer approved request mission hardy shot killed action new pilot took new gunner later flew night fighters flew missions rail targets germany attacking flew targets near battle damaged unit relocated flew missions support forces june near cockpit hood shot away accurate ground fire june flew daylight mission german returning base flew formation dive bombers escorting gave chase shot battle claimed managed fire damaged claims confirmed raid carried june day paris fell squadron abandoned france allied resistance landed airfield took yorkshire crossed took low fly past old school near bath stunt witnessed brother attending institution time squadron relocated belfast northern_ireland june rest following intensive operations awarded july malta new posting eager action volunteered service battle britain begun july learned august pilots chosen squadron fighter pilots posted training squadron flew fighter time days later august days logged hours type september given official leave travel london received buckingham palace returned shortly based group raf thick fighting suffered casualties group replace pilots killed wounded practiced operational offs fighter tactics radio control break essence air air combat sent patrols august scotland guard attacks based norway air combat rare north september survived force landing caused oil leak september posted south arriving days later assigned squadron raf raf castle camps september flew defence london large raid sought attack city raf fighters performed squadron encounter enemy september ended luftwaffe began sending fighter bombers bomb carrying england following day promoted flight lieutenant view experience october intercepted raid engaged air air combat time fighter pilot unit defend flying squadron thames estuary contact time spotted feet attacked squadron managed fire burst hit dove away smoke gained probable victory october pursued catch enemy machine far away high altitude proved encounter enemy weeks later learned relocated malta pilots men boarded november set sail convoy sent malta constituted operation supply aircraft island defence june italy declared war france country verge collapse hands italians hoped advantage weakened allies joining axis powers italian intent launch series air naval land mediterranean particularly north_africa malta lay italian sea communications sicily italian held libya island potential useful base british disrupt axis supplies north_africa ensuing north african campaign italian air_force resolved eliminate island bombing shipping bringing supplies attacking island directly air power crucial sides island reinforced found heart battle island squadron arrived november convoy came attack saw italian fleet distance witnessed enemy shells ship witnessed attack bombers failed damage ships hurricanes took fell water fuel pilots run hurricanes economic speeds fuel consumption serving malta squadron soon got bored little aircraft fly granted trip spanish morocco christmas new year leave arrested authorities taking pictures near facility released short time later travelled gibraltar trips flying boats squadron raf monitoring german shipping sailing eastern spanish ports italy returned malta short january malta new convoy way malta ammunition supplies excess coincided arrival luftwaffe 10th sicily support italians theatre failed invasion egypt january regia flew fighter sweep eighteen engaged aerial combat climbed feet spotted enemy fighters attacked group shot sea left large water sea noticed italian pilot escaped aircraft survived taken aboard rescue craft prisoner war camp malta wounded thigh arm claimed second shot minutes later following day attacked italian excess convoy italians attacked ships appeared climbed dropped tail encounter flew excess convoy hoping ship fire protect british vessels fired error aircraft hit january docked malta luftwaffe attacked ship scored damaging hits squadron failed intercept dive bombers morning january witnessed formations attack ship unable stand sight raced fellow pilot dispersal strip asked refused permission days later action german units dive bomber wing dive bomber wing attacked killing gunner sea returning base spotted double backed hoping slip past defences attack aircraft carrier destroyed aircraft victories action attacked italian shot italian fighter taken prisoner passed single flying low unaware presence ammunition exhausted course mission fifth victory fighter ace raf fighters claimed shot air battle confirmed gunner killed served killed returned badly damaged dead gunner frustrated exhausting ammunition landed hurricanes intercept enemy formation bomber sortie destroyed pilot killed action landing raid came climbed singled learning wing saw coming swung head position brief turning duel hit port engine crashed bay near point actions awarded bar january february claimed night victory vanished claimed destroyed air waves picked german crew desperate distress calls aircraft actually bomber wing crew survived wounded half hour air engaged claimed shot fact managed reach sicily written crash landing days morale began sink led appeared malta immediately took toll hurricanes british fighter match performance took flight surprise february german pilots spotted time climbed according left standing diary noted poor morale squadron owing success recorded desperation pilots eager shoot february battle luftwaffe morning squadron engaged malta careful managed tail neglected check clock position hit cannon fire shattered engine cockpit left arm began bleeding ceased function managed remove helmet radio equipment slide canopy jump gave trying reach assuming shot later said given altogether thought mother reading telegram informing killed action spurred try struggled found deployed parachute exhausted landed garden lay recovered probably hit flown german fighter leader reported 26th victory hurricane pilot british pilot bail battle hurricane crashed near near remained hospital severely wounded left arm pumped solution prevent blood arm badly damaged elbow determination reputation nurses squadron taking return action fortnight day operation hospital began speaking pilot shot days earlier topics discussion strengths italian aircraft exploits spanish civil war stayed malta took flight transport aircraft march winning bet embarked hms defender march return britain toured egypt took athens greece axis invaded greece yugoslavia april verge come weeks evacuated egypt flew kenya captured german piloted aircraft april stopping airfields flew occasion flew north american sortie reached south_africa flew home boeing lisbon portugal dublin ireland arriving bristol august night fighter reported depot days later attended august certified fit fly flew august moved brother gordon pilot officer squadron raf queen mary hospital fitted new arm explained doctors required arm allow fly hurricane designed limb allowed operate throttle taking control column firing button right hand spent hours studying cockpit layout medical staff produced arm spring loaded like fingers enabled use controls port cockpit secured left arm throttle quadrant throttle propeller pitch control mixture control landing gear controls located right artificial arm interact control column gear retracted lowered new arm proved sufficient september flew hours hurricanes possible incident september force landed darkness operation exercise september nearly collided low cloud cleared operational flying october november promoted squadron leader given command squadron equipped night operations western europe assigned personal aircraft painted emblem showing left arm cannon shell passing fingers giving sign squadron spent winter intensive night fighter training ground control station february attended absence missed channel dash subsequent air battle squadron lost pilots squadron scored success april 23rd birthday flew destroyed found locating german aircraft dark difficult claimed locomotive damaged night left wagons destroyed raids operation british cities retaliation attacks germany luftwaffe stepping campaign fully engaged eastern april raided portsmouth retaliation attack march attack resulted retaliation raids bath exeter canterbury york night april luftwaffe attacked bath took evening april headed airfields claimed bomber wing destroyed came near severely damaged second damaged port cannon jammed preventing destruction air vice marshal sent exploits printed times newspaper april set minute interval claimed settled destruction locomotives damaged boat destroyed locomotive near successes achieved missions night luftwaffe hit exeter severely night claimed destroyed trailed german bombers france attacked believed safe fact victims crashed near gunner able bail observer naval rank killed survivor managed bail killed informed decorated award announced tally stood air victories recognised night ground attack ace bbc interviewed news interview gave views dangers thrills night fighter operations june group preparation landing sur seconds shot bombers damaged victories german defences alerted began returning fire flying trailed formation german bombers raided sighting airfield destroyed detected taking action shot fourth damaged arrived left claimed saw flashes ground denoting crashed aircraft attacked german records shot crash landed severely damaged victim appears wagner killed crashed severely damaged fell miles south machine piloted likely victim crew killed action victory squadron flew sorties returned antwerp near zero feet map blown canopy window june chased miles south result july hailed success articles killers stalk night needing rest squadron withdrawn yorkshire july posted operational training unit instructor decorated exiled president august left opportunity fly typhoon replace squadron hurricanes american tour based spent time flying types aircraft including august posted short time flew regardless activity flew pilot short heavy bomber practiced fighter techniques proceeded fly types aircraft days flew acting attacking fighter american bell flew flight raf operated captured german aircraft flew force landed november flew passenger force landed scotland february time provided escort resident unit moved airfields unknown flew october received notice selected raf representative tour united_states british american facilities left immediate effect departed aboard queen elizabeth heavily guarded convoy arrived halifax nova scotia october travelled montreal october met reporters photographers event moving new_york_city night new_york went washington october received orders raf delegation teach british officer cadets american flying schools prepare entered britain montgomery alabama designated headquarters based initially post necessitated trips near alabama travelled flight schools america november flew orlando florida galveston texas near tour took los_angeles california end january visited arizona texas flight log expanded period include variety types privileged position flew lockheed lightning flying felt urge participate combat operations enjoyed american immensely february flew arizona february close flying fort force landed desert ran fuel according legend local pipeline fill tanks america undertook public relations tours met movie stars visited hollywood photo shoots march began journey britain flew canada lockheed model spent days montreal flying flew aircraft railway bridge quebec canada flew greenland iceland reached april visited comrades squadron based nearby moving night fighter officer wanted squadron command april sent stay unhappy april received news brother shot brest france escorting bombers intercepted belonging claimed squadron lost gordon squadron leader survived evaded capture returning britain gibraltar gordon killed germans recovered body buried bitter loss brother keen action enemy channel death rejoined april april began trials termed raf selected personal mount time powered armed cannon wing flew powered engine proved successful later variants flew fought visited old school pledged needed buy local campaign content position superiors operational posting weeks practicing air combat reluctantly gave permission carry ranger operations occupied france return tactics long range enemy allied fighter aircraft operated daylight proposed luftwaffe defence belt low altitude consequently trained low level navigation spending hours flying england tree height mind flew sortie june poor weather combined sighting near forced turn home rear ward vision british referred limited flying enemy aircraft approach unseen disaster decided needed assistance flight lieutenant arrived fighter pilot shot badly burned august page keen vengeance approached mess proposed fighter patrol said wanted german fighter operations endured pilots began practice operation required little wind interfere navigation low cloud base allow spot enemy aircraft silhouette great distances squadron carry diversion attacks shipping operation flown june took page later recalled fine bloody pair going tackle enemy good hand crossed reached sighted formation enemy aircraft brief bursts machine gun fire dispatched trainers falling victims killed died wounded aircraft written fourth able force land safely damaged continued hunt flying near spotted night fighters bombers coming land destroyed shared second page aircraft belonged bomber wing pilots killed retreated airfield defences gunfire page returned feet crossed coast south west crossed brighton return awarded second bar page received page flew squadron raf flying fighters requested old gunner piloted join davies accepted killed offer page flew july mission july probably hit ground fire crossing french coast near page noticed suddenly pull sharply tree height feet saw pull canopy apparently changed mind aircraft leveled descended headed small field touched quarters way orchard field edge ripped wings page crash site times considered landing rescue space confined page wreck took gun camera footage signs life headed home unable determine cause crash radio broadcast possibly result enemy small arms fire mechanical failure july awarded second bar critically injured germans took prisoner treated fractured skull field hospital days wounds july buried communal cemetery grave zone french civilian son attended funeral administered german priest took photograph grave covered flowers french civilians wooden plaque placed words died france live german authorities quickly removed page learned years later survived crash died weeks wartime score aircraft claimed destroyed shared aircraft claimed damaged honours awards july flying officer squadron awarded gallantry displayed flying operations enemy citation given february flight lieutenant squadron awarded bar gallantry displayed flying operations enemy intensive operations day january officer destroyed possibly enemy aircraft days previously destroyed enemy aircraft pursued miles sea flight lieutenant set fine example courage initiative leadership squadron leader bar squadron awarded gallantry displayed flying operations enemy early war officer served middle_east destroyed enemy aircraft following injury left arm weeks flying return england squadron leader trained night flying operations achieved success night near minutes later shot later burst flames impact ground causing fire observed distance miles squadron leader attacked goods trains trucks barges damaging effect pilot example inspiration pilots july squadron leader bar flight awarded second bar gallantry displayed flying operations enemy recently officers course operation enemy occupied territory shot enemy aircraft destroyed squadron leader flight lieutenant page destroyed jointly operation planned squadron leader brilliantly executed successes earned
James MacLachlan