Squadron Leader J.A.F. MacLachlan, the one-armed Commanding Officer of No 1 Squadron RAF, standing beside his all-black Hawker Hurricane Mark IIC night fighter, ‘JX-Q’, at Tangmere in West Sussex, England, November 1941. He had lost his arm just seven months before to a Bf 109 over Malta. (Source – Royal Air Force official photographer Woodbine G (Mr) © IWM CH 4015. Colorized by Paul Reynolds. Historic Military Photo Colourisations)
James Archibald Findlay MacLachlan DSO, DFC & Two Bars, “One-Armed Mac,” was credited with 13 victories over Axis planes. On 18 July 1943 the P-51 Mustang in which he was flying was hit by flak and crashed over France, cutting his life short at age 24.
No 1 Squadron RAF, founded in 1911, endures, currently flying Typhoons out of RAF Lossiemouth.
