James MacLachlan
Encyclopedia
James MacLachlan DSO
, DFC
and Czech War Cross was a British World War II
flying ace, famous for returning to operations with an artificial left arm, following the loss of the limb during combat over Malta.
School in September 1931.
(RAF) on a short service commission in March 1939. He was posted to 3 FTS South Cerney in May and joined No. 88 Squadron at Boscombe Down in November. Equipped with Hawker Hind
s, the squadron soon re-equipped with the Fairey Battle
and went to France at the outbreak of war. Following intensive operations and severe losses during the Battle of France
the squadron was withdrawn to England in June 1940. He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 16 July 1940).
MacLachlan then volunteered for service with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain
, and was posted to No. 145 Squadron
at Drem
on 18 August, before joining 73 Squadron at Castle Camps
in late September.
He was posted to Malta and led a flight of six Hurricanes from the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Argus
to Malta on 17 November 1940. Serving with No. 261 Squadron
at Ta Qali on 9 January 1941 MacLachlan claimed two Italian Macchi MC.200’s of 6 gruppo destroyed, on the 19th a Cant Z.506-B bomber of 612 Sqa. , a Junkers Ju-88 of 8./LG 1, two Ju 87’s and a probable Fiat CR.42. During the night of 8-9 February he next claimed two Ju-88 bombers destroyed (one of II./LG 1 and the other a misidentifed Heinkel He-111 of 5./KG 26).
He was awarded a Bar to the DFC on 11 February 1941.
On 16 February 1941 MacLachlan's Hurricane Mk. Ia (V7731) was hit by a Bf 109 flown by 'ace' Oblt. Joachim Müncheberg
of 7./JG 26 and severely wounded in the left arm. He baled out and after three days in hospital his arm was amputated below the elbow. Sixteen days later he was back flying.
When he returned to Britain he was fitted with an artificial arm and in November 1941 took command of No. 1 Squadron
at Redhill
, equipped with the Hawker Hurricane
Mk. IIc for night intruder operations over western Europe. On the night of 26-27 April 1942 MacLachlan claimed a KG 2 Dornier Do-217 destroyed and damaged another, on May 3-4 he destroyed a Do-17 and a He-111 of Kflgrpe 506 and on June 3-4 destroyed two Do 217's of KG 2 and damaged two more. He was awarded the DSO in May 1942 and on 31 July was posted to 59 OTU as an instructor.
Later in the year MacLachlan was sent on a lecture tour in the USA.
While serving with the Air Fighting Development Unit
(AFDU) at Wittering
, he often flew unofficial sorties in the new North American Mustang Mk.IA (serial no.FD442), usually with fellow 'ace' F/L Geoffrey Page
. On 29 June the duo participated in the destruction of six aircraft (four Hs 126s of JG 105, two each, and two KG 6 Ju-88s, sharing one with Page) in a single sortie.
On his next mission on 18 July 1943 his Mustang FD442 was hit by ground fire when crossing the French coast and crash-landed, with MacLachlan critically injured. He was taken prisoner, and died on 31 July 1943.
He is buried in Route de Caen Communal Cemetery, Pont L'Eveque in France.
MacLachlan's wartime score was 16.5 aircraft claimed destroyed, with 3 aircraft claimed damaged.
He was awarded a second Bar to the DFC in July 1943.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
and Czech War Cross was a British World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
flying ace, famous for returning to operations with an artificial left arm, following the loss of the limb during combat over Malta.
Early life
James Archibald Findlay MacLachlan (Jay) was born on 1 April 1919 at Styat in Cheshire, the second of six children of Hugh MacLachlan and his wife Helen (née Orr-Ewing). The MacLachlans lived in the family home in Styat, where Hugh was employed as an oil and chemical manufacturer, until his premature death in 1928. Following this, the family moved to Southampton to be close to Helen's parents, whose connection with the missionary field resulted in James being boarded at Monkton CombeMonkton Combe
Monkton Combe is a village and civil parish in north Somerset, England, south of Bath. The parish, which includes the hamlet of Tucking Mill, has a population of 356.-History:Monkton Combe was part of the hundred of Bath Forum.According to Rev...
School in September 1931.
Wartime career
MacLachlan joined the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF) on a short service commission in March 1939. He was posted to 3 FTS South Cerney in May and joined No. 88 Squadron at Boscombe Down in November. Equipped with Hawker Hind
Hawker Hind
-See also:-Bibliography:* Crawford, Alex. Hawker Hart Family. Redbourn, Hertfordshire, UK: Mushroom Model Publications Ltd., 2008. ISBN 83-89450-62-3....
s, the squadron soon re-equipped with the Fairey Battle
Fairey Battle
The Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed...
and went to France at the outbreak of war. Following intensive operations and severe losses during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
the squadron was withdrawn to England in June 1940. He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 16 July 1940).
MacLachlan then volunteered for service with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, and was posted to No. 145 Squadron
No. 145 Squadron RAF
No. 145 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron that operated during World War I, World War II and the Cold War. Its motto was Diu noctuque pugnamus .-History:...
at Drem
Drem
Drem is a small village in East Lothian, Scotland. It is approximately 20 miles east of Edinburgh and is close to Haddington , North Berwick , Dirleton and Gullane ....
on 18 August, before joining 73 Squadron at Castle Camps
Castle Camps
Castle Camps was a Norman Castle located in what is now the civil parish of Castle Camps, Cambridgeshire.-Owners:Castle Camps was originally a Saxon manor, belonging to Wulfwin, a Thane of King Edward the Confessor. After the Norman invasion, William the Conqueror gave the manor to Aubrey de Vere...
in late September.
He was posted to Malta and led a flight of six Hurricanes from the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Argus
HMS Argus
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Argus, after Argus, the hundred-eyed giant of mythology: was a 10-gun sloop, originally a French privateer, captured in 1799 and broken up in 1811....
to Malta on 17 November 1940. Serving with No. 261 Squadron
No. 261 Squadron RAF
No. 261 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force notably involved in the defence of Malta from August 1940 till May 1941 and the campaign in Burma.-Formation and World War I:...
at Ta Qali on 9 January 1941 MacLachlan claimed two Italian Macchi MC.200’s of 6 gruppo destroyed, on the 19th a Cant Z.506-B bomber of 612 Sqa. , a Junkers Ju-88 of 8./LG 1, two Ju 87’s and a probable Fiat CR.42. During the night of 8-9 February he next claimed two Ju-88 bombers destroyed (one of II./LG 1 and the other a misidentifed Heinkel He-111 of 5./KG 26).
He was awarded a Bar to the DFC on 11 February 1941.
On 16 February 1941 MacLachlan's Hurricane Mk. Ia (V7731) was hit by a Bf 109 flown by 'ace' Oblt. Joachim Müncheberg
Joachim Müncheberg
Joachim Müncheberg was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He is credited with 135 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in over 500 combat missions...
of 7./JG 26 and severely wounded in the left arm. He baled out and after three days in hospital his arm was amputated below the elbow. Sixteen days later he was back flying.
When he returned to Britain he was fitted with an artificial arm and in November 1941 took command of No. 1 Squadron
No. 1 Squadron RAF
No. 1 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated the Harrier GR9 from RAF Cottesmore until 28 January 2011.The squadron motto is In omnibus princeps , appropriate for the RAF's oldest squadron and one that has been involved in almost every major British military operation since...
at Redhill
Redhill
Redhill can refer to:* Redhill, South Australia, Australia* Redhill, Nottinghamshire, England* Redhill, Shropshire, England* Redhill, Somerset, England* Redhill, Surrey, England**Redhill railway station**Redhill Aerodrome* Redhill, Singapore, Singapore...
, equipped with the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
Mk. IIc for night intruder operations over western Europe. On the night of 26-27 April 1942 MacLachlan claimed a KG 2 Dornier Do-217 destroyed and damaged another, on May 3-4 he destroyed a Do-17 and a He-111 of Kflgrpe 506 and on June 3-4 destroyed two Do 217's of KG 2 and damaged two more. He was awarded the DSO in May 1942 and on 31 July was posted to 59 OTU as an instructor.
Later in the year MacLachlan was sent on a lecture tour in the USA.
While serving with the Air Fighting Development Unit
Air Fighting Development Unit
The Air Fighting Development Unit was an air technical intelligence part of the Royal Air Force which developed operational tactics and tested captured enemy aircraft. It was based at Royal Air Force Stations at Northolt, Duxford and Wittering....
(AFDU) at Wittering
Wittering
Wittering may refer to,* Wittering, Cambridgeshire, formerly in Northamptonshire** RAF Wittering, near the above* Wittering, Sussex, which is divided into:** East Wittering** West Wittering...
, he often flew unofficial sorties in the new North American Mustang Mk.IA (serial no.FD442), usually with fellow 'ace' F/L Geoffrey Page
Geoffrey Page
Alan Geoffrey Page DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar was a British flying ace of the Second World War, and a founding member of the Guinea Pig Club.-Early life:...
. On 29 June the duo participated in the destruction of six aircraft (four Hs 126s of JG 105, two each, and two KG 6 Ju-88s, sharing one with Page) in a single sortie.
On his next mission on 18 July 1943 his Mustang FD442 was hit by ground fire when crossing the French coast and crash-landed, with MacLachlan critically injured. He was taken prisoner, and died on 31 July 1943.
He is buried in Route de Caen Communal Cemetery, Pont L'Eveque in France.
MacLachlan's wartime score was 16.5 aircraft claimed destroyed, with 3 aircraft claimed damaged.
He was awarded a second Bar to the DFC in July 1943.
Further reading
- "Shot Down In Flames" Geoffrey PageGeoffrey PageAlan Geoffrey Page DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar was a British flying ace of the Second World War, and a founding member of the Guinea Pig Club.-Early life:...
- "Night Hawk: The Story of Flight Leutenant Karel KuttelwascherKarel KuttelwascherKarel Miloslav Kuttelwascher, "Kut" was a Czech fighter pilot, a flying ace of the UK's Royal Air Force in World War II. He was the most successful RAF pilot of Czech nationality.-Pilot:...
" Roger Darlington