User:Pullin' Billies/sandbox/James Maclean
James Robert Maclean | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 November 1920 Liverpool, United Kingdom |
| Died | 05 June 1940 Amiens, France |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939-1940 |
| Rank | Pilot Officer |
| Unit | No. 6 OTU No. 111 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross (Post-Humorously) |
James Robert "Stuka" Maclean, DFC, (13 November 1920 - 05 June 1940) was a British pilot and flying ace during the Second World War. Enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1939, he finished flying training and served during the early stage of the war before being killed in action over the French city of Amiens. Maclean earned the nickname 'Stuka' from his multiple confirmed victories against Junkers Ju 87's; He attained a total of 7 confirmed aerial victories with 2 probable kills.
Early Life[edit]
Born on 13 November 1920, to Timothy and Sarah Maclean, he was the youngest of two children and grew up in West Liverpool. Maclean was educated at Farnham College and upon graduation, spent a year in France working as a mechanic on automobiles before enlisting in the Royal Air Force. His Australian cousin, George Maclean also served in the RAF flying Supermarine Spitfires.
Military Service[edit]
James Maclean enlisted in the Royal Air Force on the 21 August 1939, completing flying training and receiving his wings in March 1940. Maclean was then assigned to fly fighters under the RAF Fighter Command and proceeded to No. 6 OTU (Operational Training Unit) to begin conversion onto the Hawker Hurricane MkI.
Early War[edit]
Upon completing conversion training onto the Hurricane, Maclean was assigned to report to No. 111 Squadron RAF based at Eastchurch on 10 May 1940. On the 25 May 1940, Maclean along with the rest of No. 111 Squadron were transferred to the coastal area of Dover, moving to RAF Base Lympne. During the transit flight, Maclean's flight section received warning of a German aircraft on a reconnaissance mission (later identified as early reconnaissance for the invasion of Great Britain by Nazi Germany). Upon investigation, Maclean achieved his first aerial victory, shooting down a Heinkel He 111.
Maclean took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk, protecting convoys of ships heading to and from the town to evacuate troops, against the Luftwaffe's dive bombers. On 29 May 1940, Maclean shot down two Junkers Ju 87 'Stuka' aircraft over mainland France west of Dunkirk, receiving two probable victories for another Ju 87 and a Junkers Ju 88. The following day on 30 May, Maclean, as part of large allied force attempting to counter the German air superiority over Dunkirk, managed to shoot down four Ju 87's attempting to bomb Royal Navy destroyers crossing the Channel carrying evacuee's.
On 05 June 1940, No. 111 Squadron were assigned to provide fighter cover for RAF bombers targeting Nazi military instalments in the French town of Amiens. During the mission, Maclean provided cover for the Vickers Wellington Bombers, allowing them to achieve their mission. However minutes after the bombers had released their payloads, Maclean was targeted by a diving Messerschmitt Bf 110, taking direct fire to his cockpit and empennage. He was killed instantly and fellow fighters reported seeing the aircraft's tail ripped from the fuselage, eventually crashing along the River Somme.
At the time of his death, James Maclean had the highest amount of aerial victories amongst No. 111 Squadron, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross post-humorously for his actions on 30 May against the four Stuka bombers.