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This blog is not only about paying homage to Buck McNair.
This is another pilot who fought alongside him. I found this story here while looking for more information on F/O Daddo-Langlois.
This is a 12 page PDF document paying homage to this pilot.
George Buchanan
George Buchanan’s name does not appear in Buck McNair’s logbook pages his son sent me.
March 1942
Click on the image to zoom in
April 1942
Click on the image to zoom in
But Buck McNair’s name appears in the PDF document!
This is an excerpt of the PDF document proving Buck McNair and George Buchanan knew each other very well.
9. Transferred to 249 Squadron Malta:
To Malta via Gibraltar on Sunderland Flying Boat: 8 February to 20 February 1942
10. 249 Squadron – Malta: 21 February to 22 May 1942.
Based at Takali Airfield.
Without doubt this period was the toughest, hardest fought and most critical phase of the long siege of Malta. Daily attacks by the superior number of Axis Aircraft based in Sicily were taking an unsustainable toll on RAF Aircraft on Malta, particularly Spitfires.
Statistics speak for themselves:-
Number of Serviceable Fighters on Malta on 14 April 1942:
Zero (4 Fighter Squadrons)
Number of Serviceable Fighters on Malta on five separate days in April 1942: 1
Number of newly arrived Spitfires on Malta on 20 April 1942: 47
Number of Spitfires available on Malta five days later on 25 April 1942: 7
Average daily number of enemy aircraft over Malta between Dec ‘41 and April ’42: 170
296 Tons of Bombs dropped on Takali Airfield in 24 Hours on 20-21 March 1942,
making it the most bombed Allied Airfield ever.
During March-April 1942 more bombs were dropped on Malta (an island a fraction of the size of London) than were dropped on London during the entire Blitz.
Relief came with the delivery of 47 Spitfires flown off the US Carrier SS Wasp on 20 April – making up two additional Fighter Squadrons, 601 and 603, but this was short lived and Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Aircraft spotted their arrival and no sooner were they on the ground than the Ju88s and Bf109s arrived to attack. After 48 hours of Axis bombing, only 7 serviceable Spitfires remained.
But a second batch of 64 Spitfires was flown off the SS Wasp and HMS Eagle more successfully on 9 May (the date is May 18 according to Buck McNair’s logbook). This moment marked a turning point from which the strength of the defending squadrons was well defended and maintained, allowing each of the six Spitfire Squadrons to maintain an average of six aircraft on standby each day. The intensity of aerial battles increased dramatically but at least on equal terms.
Another 30 additional Spitfires were flown off the Carrier HMS Eagle on 9 June. One of these was flown in by Sgt “Screwball” Beurling, who was also posted to 249 Squadron. Beurling entered the fray on 12th June 1942 and by October had disposed of 26 enemy aircraft – no other allied pilot shot down more planes in such a short period of time.
No 249 Squadron emerged as the top-scoring RAF Fighter Squadron of World War II, with 328 Aircraft shot down in aerial combat, of which 244 aircraft were shot down over Malta.
The following awards were gazetted during operations in Malta:
DSO: 1
DFC: 21
Bar to DFC: 5
DFM: 4
Bar to DFM: 3
On the debit side, 44 Pilots were killed in Malta.
Details of 249 Squadron Posting: 21 February to 22 May 1942.
Fourth Posting/First Operational Tour.
CO: S/Ldr Turner DFC
S/Ldr Grant DFC
Flight Commanders:
A Flight: F/Lt P.B. Lucas DFC
B Flight: F/Lt R.W.McNair RCAF DFC
Aircraft Type:
Hurricane IIs to 6 March 1942
Spitfire VBs from 7 March 1942.
The new CO of the Squadron, S/Ldr P.S.Turner arrived aboard the same Sunderland as George Buchanan on 20 February, together with F/Lt Lucas, F/O Daddo-Langlois, F/Lt R.W. McNair RCAF, and P/O J.G. West DFM RNZAF – famous names.
On joining the Squadron George found himself in the company of two other Rhodesian Pilots, P/O J.A. Plagis – who was to make a name for himself over Malta – and P/O Douglas Leggo.
The squadron was in a desperate situation, round-the-clock bombing continued, the Hurricanes were no match against Me109s and the number of serviceable Hurricanes was dwindling rapidly – and the situation made worse by the fact that Rommel’s Afrika Corps was on the rampage in Libya. Steps were even taken to disband the Squadron, but in the nick of time the first Spitfires arrived in Malta on 7 March.
In the early morning 15 Spitfire Mk VBs lifted off the deck of HMS Eagle at position 700 miles west of Malta, flown by 249 Squadron Pilots. So began a new chapter in the history of 249 Squadron.
Due to recent incoming postings, numbers had become inflated and the squadron now comprised 29 pilots with Spitfire experience, including five experienced Flight Lieutenants.
George’s posting coincided with the final few days of the Hurricane era, and during this time he was only involved on two uneventful flights amounting to 1.35 Flying Hours. With the arrival of the Spitfires the scene changed dramatically and the sky over Malta became a daily swarm of hostile aircraft involved in aerial combat and dog fights interspersed with heavy losses on the ground from bombing.
The following are copies of entries from George’s Log Book:
10.3.1942
Scramble 45 Mins Attacked Ju 88 head-on – no result. Attacked another Ju 88 quarter astern – hits along fuselage:
1 damaged
Credited ¼ German
10.3.1942
Scramble 40 Mins Escorting Motor Launch- Attacked by 3 Me 109Fs. Received hits in fuselage & starboard wing. Crash landed on drome – 28 shrapnel wounds in legs – 4 days in hospital. Returned to duty 24 March –
26.3.1942
Scramble 25 Mins Reflector Site u/s. Squirted at Ju 88 and Me 109F –
01.4.1942
Escort 35 Mins Escorting PRU Spitfire returning from Sicily. Met Me109s – Plagis got one. –
01.4.1942
Interception 35 Mins Float Plane + Me109 Escort. One each shot down by Plagis/Hesselyn. S/L Grant/Self one each damaged. Trapped between 3 Me109s– Managed to evade them.
Credited ¼ German
01.4.1942
Interception 40 Mins Ju87 Raid. Destroyed Ju87. Rear Gunner fired right to the end. Kept down to 6000 ft by 109s so took out Ju87s after they had bombed. 5 Spits got 5 Ju87s.
Credited 1 German
10.4.1942
Scramble 60 Mins To investigate force of 74+ Incoming Bombers. Met Me109s before bombers. Squirted 15 second burst at Me109F – confirmed later by ground personnel – Pilot baled out, now in hospital. Log Book signed by Lt.Herman Neuhoff – leading Ace of JG53 – 40 Victories and recently promoted to lead 6 Staffel
Credited 1 German
19.4.1942
Scramble 70 Mins To intercept Raid. Damaged Ju88. Disabled Gunner
Credited ¼ German
21.4.1942
Scramble 80 Mins Incoming Raid – Attacked two Ju87s – one confirmed
Credited 1 German
02.5.1942
Scramble 60 Mins Incoming Raid – Me109 Damaged
Credited ¼ German
05.5.1942
Escort 30 Mins Came across two Me109s – had a good squirt at one
in climbing turn and Hesselyn squirted at same. Later discovered it was damaged.
09.5.1942
Scramble 45 Mins Providing cover for new Spitfires flown off Carriers
Attacked Me109F – Later confirmed as destroyed
Credited 1 German
10.5.1942
Scramble 40 Mins Badly damaged Ju87. Squirted at 2 Me109s ¼ German
Spits smash Ju87 Force completely. Battle reaches climax.
10.5.1942
Scramble 40 Mins Collected 5 Spits from Luqa. Mixed it with 5 Me109s
Two squirts – no obvious results.
14.5.1942
Scramble 75 Mins Intercepted Ju88 over Luqa. Attacked Me109 Escort, rolled over on my back & squirted at Me109 coming towards me but below. Confirmed by ground personnel as going down streaming glycol. Disappeared over Dingli Cliffs. 3 Spits attacked.
Credited 1¼ German
15.5.1942
Scramble 85 Mins Intercepted Italian Bombers and MACCHI 202s. Attacked by 8 MACCHIs but managed to evade them
16.5.1942
Scramble 55 Mins Self and F/Sgt Verral intercepted 12 MACCHI 202s. Waded into them. 4 sec squirt at one. It spun down. Last seen at 2000’ in flat spin. Closed to 50 yds of another. Guns packed up. One confirmed.
Credited 1 Italian
17.5.1942
Scramble 50 Mins Incoming raid – Went looking for 109s. Then the Recco Job turned up with 2 Me109s. The 109s hopped it so shot down Ju88. 3 sec burst of cannon Went down in flames – crashed into sea.
Credited 1 German
Total Credits
– Credited in Malta: 8½
Plus Credits with 41 Squadron: ½
Total credited: 9
During the above period of 3+ months 249 Squadron was credited with the destruction of 81 Enemy Aircraft, plus many more ‘probables’ and ‘damaged’.
Relating this to the total of 240 Enemy Aircraft destroyed over Malta in a period of 26 months, provides convincing evidence ‘that the period February to May 1942 was an exceptionally fierce and critical phase of the long siege of Malta’.
This Officer has displayed great determination in his encounters with raiding aircraft. One day, in April 1942, he shot down a Junkers 87 and damaged another in a single combat. Having expended all his ammunition, he carried out a series of feint attacks on Messerschmitt 109s and drove them away from some of his comrades who were coming in to land their aircraft.
RAF 249 Squadron 
Hi, a fascinating read. My father served with 249 sqn 1949 into the early 1950s in Habbaniya, where they had Tempests amongst others. A little after this time I know, but this is the first connection to anyone from that same Squadron I have been able to find. A super read!
Tempests!
My favourite WWII fighter.
If you want to contribute to this blog you are more than welcome.
Pierre
I will do, have. Some rather good photos taken by him whilst there. Thanks.
I don’t have many posts on this blog since few people have shared pictures and or stories.
You will be the first one.
I’ll see what I can do then.
I have added a few posts I had in the draft section.
Transcript of the PDF document
GEORGE BUCHANAN D.F.C.
The motivation for this story is similar in nature to the incident which sparked off the very extensive research on Group Captain Charles Appleton’s RAF Career – ie an error in an author’s entry in a book. This second case occurred during the recent preparation of the Roll Of Honour of Rhodesian Air Crew killed during World War II.
In checking the names of Rhodesian Fighter Pilots in the book ACES HIGH (First Edition 1966) by Christopher Shores and Clive Williams it was noted that George Buchanan was reported as having been shot down and killed over Malta. Cross-checking against the Roll Of Honour in the PRIDE OF EAGLES and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Web Site revealed that he was not killed during
World War II. Christopher Shores was contacted by phone, and admitted that the account in the First Edition was wrong, but the error was corrected in subsequent Editions. During this time details from ‘ACES HIGH’ were circulated amongst various AFA Members, and the unknowns surrounding George Buchanan aroused much interest. It was decided to try and establish definitive details of his RAF Career, so the first step was to locate someone who had some direct connection.
Thanks to ORAFs and the initiative of Alastair Honeybun – Webmaster of ‘Rhodesians Worldwide’, a ‘request for information’ was circulated and picked up by a MOTH Member, who passed it on to George’s son Rob Buchanan at Hilton in Natal.
Rob responded with enthusiasm, and it soon became apparent that he possessed a wealth of information on his father’s RAF Career, including his RAF Log Book.
After some contacts via Email, Rob decided to send the Log Book and copies of documents to England. These were brought over by a close friend, John Whitaker – a Jumbo Captain seconded to Korean Airlines by SAA – who travels frequently between SA and the UK. It became his responsibility to take good care of the Log Book and return it to Rob. We met on three occasions, which provided ample opportunity to peruse the Log Book and review the documents. It became clear that this information would provide the bulk of the detail required to prepare a write-up on George Buchanan’s RAF Career. As an additional source of information,
George Buchanan’s Gazetted Details and Record of Service were obtained from the RAF Personnel Management Agency at Royal Air Force Innsworth.
The George Buchanan Story was prepared from a combination of these details.
1. The Beginning: George was born at Dundee in South Africa on 28 Nov.1912, and at the outbreak of war was employed by the Zambezi Saw Mills Co. at Livingstone in Northern Rhodesia. He applied to join the RAF as a pilot and after the necessary
preliminary formalities he was accepted early in 1940. There were no Air Training Facilities in Rhodesia at that time, so in accordance with Government Policy he was sent to the UK. He left Livingstone in April 1940. Prior to his departure he was given a send off by the then Mayor and Mayoress of Livingstone, Mr and Mrs Orr. Mrs Orr suggested he look up her niece in Scotland, and this he duly did, and mar-ried her on 3rd May 1941 in Glasgow.
2. Arrival in England: George was enlisted on 25 May 1940 with the rank of AC2, and recommended for training as ‘(1) Pilot, (2) Observer, and for a Commission’. In the interim he was posted to No 3 ITW where he underwent elementary training.
3. Elementary Flying Training School: He was then promoted to the rank of LAC and posted to 14 EFTS at Elmdon, near Birmingham, where he undertook flying lessons on de Havilland Tiger Moths. After the war Elmdon became the site of Birmingham International Airport.
14 EFTS Elmdon: From 20 August to 2 October 1940.
Aircraft Type: de Havilland Tiger Moth.
First Solo Flight after 8.10 Flying Hours – Excellent {Bill Dives – Belvedere: 17 Hrs 30 Mins – Testing the limit. Bill Musgrave – Guinea Fowl:
11 Hrs 55 Mins – Mediocre. Ewart Siegrief – Belvedere: 7 Hrs 55 Mins – Excellent}
Summary of Flying Hours: Dual Pilot Total Day
Day
Hours
28.20
23.25
51.45
Assessment – Ability as Pilot: AVERAGE
It is worth noting that the span of his time at EFTS corresponded with the most crucial phase of the Battle Of Britain, including the period of daily ground level attacks by the Luftwaffe on RAF Airfields.
Flying Tiger Moths around the skies in the Birmingham/Castle Bromwich area during this period, would no doubt have caused pupil pilots to have some worrying thoughts of lurking Me109s.
4. No 8 SFTS: 7 October 1940 to 8 January 1941
Promoted to Sergeant prior to posting.
Aircraft Type: Miles Master
CO: Squadron Leader Slater
First Solo Flight after 2.05 Hours.
Awarded Flying Badge: 8.1.1941
Summary of Flying Hours at SFTS: Dual
Pilot Dual
Pilot Total
Day
Day
Night
Night
Hours
24.30
37.05
3.20
1.15
66.10
Cumulative Flying Hours …………
52.50
60.30
3.20
1.15
117.55
Assessment – Exam Result: 71.30%
Ability as Pilot: AVERAGE
Comment: Heavy On Controls
5. No 55 OTU – Acton Down, Gloucs: 17 January 1941 to 7 March 1941
Commissioned and promoted to Pilot Officer prior to posting.
Aircraft Type Hawker Hurricane I + some dual instruction on Miles Master.
Summary of Flying Hours at OTU : Dual Pilot
Dual Pilot Total
Day
Day
Night
Night
Hours
0.30
16.30
–
–
17.00
Cumulative Flying Hours …………
53.20
77.00
3.20
1.15
134.55
Assessment – Ability as Pilot: AVERAGE
Log Book endorsed as a result of a crash landing attributed to ‘Faulty Cockpit Drill, failing to switch over to full Fuel Tank’.
6. No 260 Squadron: 19 March to 28 April 1941.
First Operational Posting.
Squadron based at Drem in the extreme north of Scotland.
CO: S/Ldr Mount DFC
Aircraft Type: Hawker Hurricanes Is
Main Duty: Convoy Patrols – but lack of enemy activity and adverse winter weather conditions limited operations.
Log Book shows training flights and some false alarm “scrambles”.
Summary of Flying Hours 260 Sq: Dual
Pilot Dual
Pilot Total
Day
Day
Night
Night
Hours
–
24.10
–
–
24.10
Cumulative Flying Hours …………
53.20
101.10
3.20
1.15
159.05
Flying Hours First Operational Tour: 24.10
7. No 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron: 4 May to 27 August 1941
Second Posting/First Operational Tour.
Squadron based at Wittering – East Midlands.
CO: S/Ldr Jameson DFC.
S/Ldr Beresford
Flight Commander: F/Lt Charles Green
(Rhodesian: Future CO of Typhoon Wing
DSO and Bar, DFC. Died 10 June 2001 in Durban.)
Aircraft Type: Spitfire IIas
Relatively dull period, with the odd Fighter Sweep, Standing Patrols and Advanced Training.
Off Sick + Sick Leave: 15 July to 15 August.
Summary of Flying Hours 266 Sq: Dual
Pilot Dual
Pilot Total
Day
Day
Night
Night
Hours
–
41.30
–
2.50
44.20
Cumulative Flying Hours …………
53.20
142.40
3.20
4.50
204.10
Flying Hours First Operational Tour:
67.30
8. No 41 Squadron – Tangmere Wing: 27 August 1941 to 8 February 1942.
Third Posting/First Operational Tour.
CO: S/Ldr Gaunce
S/Ldr Petrus“Dutch”Hugo
(South African: Future CO of 322 Wing, DSO, DFC and 2 Bars)
Aircraft Type: Spitfire VBs
The squadron joined the Tangmere Wing in July 1941. This led the squadron into ‘Rhubarbs’ – low level ranging patrols over the continent of single aircraft or pairs seeking targets of opportunity. This
was interspersed with convoy patrols and offensive sweeps. Compared to previous postings these operations were hectic. In a sweep over Ostend, Georgewas credited with a share in the shooting down of an Hs 123. He was involved in other interceptions – on 18 September he got in his first “squirt” at an Me 109e.
Some time later he took part in an attack on a Power Station at Monteville, on 18 Nov he participated in the sinking of a sea-going tug in a canal at Caen, and on 21 Nov he was involved in a shoot-up of a Distillery in France.
8. No 41 Squadron
– Continued Summary of Flying Hours 41 Sq: Dual
Pilot Dual
Pilot Total
Day
Day
Night
Night
Hours
–
103.30
–
–
103.30
Cumulative Flying Hours …………
53.20
246.10
3.20
4.50
307.40
Flying Hours First Operational Tour:
171.00
Assessment – Ability as Pilot:
AVERAGE Signed S/Ldr P.Hugo
9. Transferred to 249 Squadron Malta:
To Malta via Gibraltar on Sunderland Flying Boat: 8 Feb to 20 Feb 1942
10. 249 Squadron – Malta: 21 February to 22 May 1942.
Based at Takali Airfield.
Without doubt this period was the toughest, hardest fought and most critical phase of the long siege of Malta. Daily attacks by the superior number of Axis
Aircraft based in Sicily were taking an unsustainable toll on RAF Aircraft on Malta, particularly Spitfires.
Statistics speak for themselves:- Number of Serviceable Fighters on Malta on 14 April 1942: Zero
(4 Fighter Squadrons)
Number of Serviceable Fighters on Malta on five separate days in April 1942: 1
Number of newly arrived Spitfires on Malta on 20 April 1942: 47
Number of Spitfires available on Malta five days later on 25 April 1942: 7
Average daily number of enemy aircraft over Malta between Dec ‘41 and April ’42: 170
296 Tons of Bombs dropped on Takali Airfield in 24 making it the most bombed Allied Airfield ever.
During March-April 1942 more bombs were dropped on Malta (an island a fraction of the size of London) than were dropped on London during the entire Blitz.
Relief came with the delivery of 47 Spitfires flown off the US Carrier SS Wasp on 20 April – making up two additional Fighter Squadrons, 601 and 603, but this was short lived and Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Aircraft spotted their arrival and no sooner were they on the ground than the Ju88s and Bf109s arrived to attack. After 48 hours of Axis bombing, only 7 serviceable Spitfires remained. But a second batch of 64 Spitfires was flown off the SS Wasp and HMS Eagle more successfully on 9 May. This moment marked a turning point from which the strength of the defending squadrons was well defended and maintained, allowing each of the six Spitfire Squadrons to maintain an average of six aircraft on
standby each day. The intensity of aerial battles increased dramatically but at least on equal terms. Another 30 additional Spitfires were flown off the Carrier HMS Eagle on 9 June. One of these was flown in by Sgt “Screwball” Beurling, who was also posted to 249 Squadron.
Beurling entered the fray on 12th June 1942 and by October had disposed of 26 enemy aircraft – no other allied pilot shot down more planes in such a short period of time. No 249 Squadron emerged as the top-scoring RAF Fighter Squadron of World
War II, with 328 Aircraft shot down in aerial combat, of which 244 aircraft were shot down over Malta. The following awards were gazetted during operations in Malta:
DSO: 1
DFC: 21
Bar to DFC: 5
DFM: 4
Bar to DFM: 3
On the debit side, 44 Pilots were killed in Malta.
George was my paternal grandfather’s brother 🙂
Feel free to share whatever information you have David. All these fine young men deserve recognition.
Does this make you Greer’s Cousin?