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Operation: Interception
Date: 11th October 1942 (Sunday)
Unit: No. 126 Squadron (motto: 'Foremost in attack')
Type: Spitfire Vc
Serial: BR183
Code:
Base: RAF Luqa, Malta
Location: Mediterranean Sea
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. David Derek MacLean NZ/411493 RNZAF Age 20. Missing - believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Weather Fine to fair, cloudy about mid-day.
From the early morning and during the day Malta was rocked by heavy bombing raids for the first time in three months, as the enemy sent 58 bombers with massed fighter escorts over the Island. The attacks mark a return to blitz conditions not seen since the end of April 1942. This time Malta’s Spitfires were airborne in force to counter-attack, destroying eight of the enemy bombers and seven of their fighters.
Above: BR183 leaving HMS Furious for Malta
Heavy anti-aircraft fire also engaged the raiders but with ammunition restrictions at 15 rounds per gun per day due to lack of stocks the Gunners were unable to provide a deterrent to raiders equal to previous months.
16:25 hrs 40 German and Italian fighters approach the Island. Eight Spitfires of 229 Squadron are scrambled to intercept and attack enemy fighters north of St Paul’s Bay. Fl/Lt Glazebrook and Fl/Sgt. Jim Ballantyne each destroy one Macchi 202. Spitfires are scrambled from Hal Far: W/Cdr Thompson, Sgt. Gore and P/O. Reid each destroy one ME 109.
Nine Spitfires of 126 Squadron Luqa are also scrambled at 16:30 hrs. W/Cdr. Peter Prosser Hanks damages one Me109 and Sq/Ldr. Bryan John Wicks one Macchi 202, Fl/Lt Reels probably destroys one Re 2001 and damages one, F/O. Edward Wilson Wallace damages one Macchi 202. Spitfire EP550 is damaged after a crash landing at Luqa, the pilot is unhurt. One Spitfire and pilot Sgt. MacLean are reported missing 35 miles north of Comino.
Burial details:
Fl/Sgt. David Derek MacLean. Malta Memorial. Panel 5, Column 1. Born on the 15th October 1921 in Wanganui. Educated at Wanganui Collegiate and Victoria University. Enlisted on the 01st March 1941 at Levin. Pilot badge awarded on the 25th September 1941 and promoted to sergeant. Flew a Spitfire off HMS Furious for Malta on the 17th August 1942 and joined 126 squadron. Son of Allan Hector MacLean (died 08th July 1964, age 70) and of Alice Kathleen MacLean (née Allison - died 08th December 1983, age 89), of Wanganui, Wellington, New Zealand.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archive.
Other sources as quoted below:
KTY 09-04-2023
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