James MacLachlan

tweaks/corrections + remove flags from infobox per WP:INFOBOXFLAG ← Previous revision Revision as of 04:08, 23 June 2016 Line 3: Line 3:   {{Infobox military person   {{Infobox military person   |name= James Archibald Findlay MacLachlan   |name= James Archibald Findlay MacLachlan − |image= File:JamesMacLachlanDSODFCtwoBars.jpg + |image= JamesMacLachlanDSODFCtwoBars.jpg   |image_size= 300px   |image_size= 300px   |alt=   |alt= Line 13: Line 13:   |placeofburial= Pont-l'Évêque, Calvados   |placeofburial= Pont-l'Évêque, Calvados   |nickname= "One-Armed Mac"   |nickname= "One-Armed Mac" − |allegiance= {{flag|United Kingdom}} + |allegiance= United Kingdom − |branch= {{air force|United Kingdom}} + |branch= [[Royal Air Force]]   |serviceyears= 1937–43   |serviceyears= 1937–43   |rank= [[Squadron leader]]   |rank= [[Squadron leader]] Line 21: Line 21:   |commands= [[No. 1 Squadron RAF]]   |commands= [[No. 1 Squadron RAF]]   |battles= [[Second World War]]   |battles= [[Second World War]] − |awards= Distinguished Service Order<br/>Distinguished Flying Cross & Two Bars<br/>[[Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945|War Cross]] (Czechoslovakia) + |awards= [[Distinguished Service Order]]<br/>[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] & [[Medal bar|Two Bars]]<br/>[[Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945|War Cross]] (Czechoslovakia)   |relations=   |relations=   |laterwork=   |laterwork= Line 27: Line 27:   [[Squadron Leader]] '''James Archibald Findlay MacLachlan''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|DSO|DFC}} & [[Medal bar|Two Bars]] (1 April 1919 – 31 July 1943) was a [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) [[fighter pilot]] and [[flying ace]] of the [[Second World War]]. 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.   [[Squadron Leader]] '''James Archibald Findlay MacLachlan''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|DSO|DFC}} & [[Medal bar|Two Bars]] (1 April 1919 – 31 July 1943) was a [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) [[fighter pilot]] and [[flying ace]] of the [[Second World War]]. 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.     − Born in [[Cheshire]] in 1919, 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). + Born in [[Cheshire]] in 1919, 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 (United Kingdom)|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]]. By February 1941 he had achieved eight victories (two at night). He was awarded a bar to his DFC on 11 February 1941. 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.   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]]. By February 1941 he had achieved eight victories (two at night). He was awarded a bar to his DFC on 11 February 1941. 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 (DSO) 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. + 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]] (DSO) 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. + 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.       ==Early life==   ==Early life==