James MacLachlan

James Archibald Findlay MacLachlan (1 April 1919 – 31 July 1943) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War.

James MacLachlan was born on 1 April 1919 at Styal 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 Styal, where Hugh was employed as an oil and chemical manufacturer until his premature death in 1928 from peritonitis.

Following their father's death the family moved to Southampton to be close to Helen's parents.

Her father Archibald Orr-Ewing was connected with the Plymouth Brethren, China Inland Mission and the missionary field.

His influence resulted in James being enrolled at King Edward's evangelical school for two years.

After completing his preliminary education James became a boarder at Monkton Combe School near Bath, Somerset in September 1931, aged 12.

James' brothers, Hugh Jnr, Gordon and Archie would later follow him through the same school.

MacLachlan was not academic although he did excel at poetry.

He attracted trouble at school by writing scurrilous rhymes about his contemporaries and members of staff.

He played rugby and enjoyed rowing but was not generally a sporting child.

He enjoyed wildlife and animals.

School encouraged in him a fascination with biology, and he regularly supplied rabbits and other specimens to the laboratory.

He was never appointed a prefect and did not rise to a notable rank in the School Officer Training Corps.

James preferred to engage in carpentry and metal work.

Born in Cheshire and educated at Monkton Combe School in Somerset, MacLachlan joined the RAF aged 17 in March 1937.

He progressed quickly through flight training and was granted a commission as acting pilot officer on 3 May 1937.

He completed his flight training in early 1939 and had considerable time to gain experience in operational types upon the outbreak of the Second World War.

When the Battle of France began in May 1940 he was serving with No. 88 Squadron RAF flying the Fairey Battle light bomber he was credited with two enemy aircraft damaged and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

Surviving the battle he transferred to fighter pilot school in the summer 1940.

During the Battle of Britain he served with No. 73 Squadron RAF and No. 145 Squadron RAF.

He achieved a probable victory during the battle.

In late 1940 he transferred to Malta in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations and joined No. 261 Squadron RAF.

MacLachlan was credited with 16 German and Italian aircraft shot down in approximately 250 missions—7 were at night of which two were achieved over Malta in 1941 and 5 over France in 1942.

By February 1941 he had achieved eight victories (two at night) and was awarded a Bar to his DFC.

MacLachlan was wounded in action on 16 February 1941.

His arm was so severely damaged it was amputated, but he returned to operations in November 1941 with an artificial limb.

MacLachlan joined No. 1 Squadron RAF as squadron leader and led night fighter operations in defence of Britain.

In May 1942 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order after claiming five more victories flying with Karel Kuttelwascher.

Coupled with the two over Malta it qualified him as a night fighter ace.

By July 1942 MacLachlan's tally stood at 13 enemy aircraft shot down including 7 at night.

MacLachlan left the squadron for a position at the Air Fighting Development Unit (ADFU).

In October 1942 MacLachlan departed to conduct lecturing tours to the United States.

He returned to Britain with the ADFU in mid-1943.

In June he joined No. 132 Squadron RAF on cross-Channel patrols over Europe.

MacLachlan achieved his last 3 victories during these operations—all in one mission—to bring his final tally to 16.

On 18 July 1943 the P-51 Mustang in which he was flying was hit by German flak or suffered engine failure and crashed over France.

The Germans reported him as a prisoner of war but he died in a military hospital from his injuries.

MacLachlan was awarded a second Bar to his DFC on 30 July 1943 in absentia.

During the course of his combat career he flew the Fairey Battle, Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire and P-51 Mustang.