Loudoun MacLean
| Loudoun James MacLean | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1 February 1893 Ealing, London, England |
| Died | Unknown |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1914–1935 1939–? |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Unit |
Royal Engineers No. 41 Squadron RFC |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front World War II |
| Awards | Military Cross & Bar |
Squadron Leader Loudoun James MacLean MC* (born 1 February 1893) was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.
MacLean was born in Ealing, London, the son of Loudoun Francis MacLeanCIE (1848–1897), who died in Delhi, India, while serving as superintending engineer of the Jumna Canal.
After training as a "Gentlemen Cadet" at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, MacLean was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers on 1 April 1914. He was promoted to lieutenant on 9 June 1915, and served on the Western Front in France, winning the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 2 October. His citation read:
MacLean was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, and after completing flying training, was appointed a flying officer on 5 May 1917. In June he was posted to No. 41 Squadron RFC, which was the last RFC squadron flying the obsolete F.E.8 fighter. These were replaced with the Airco DH.5 in July, but these also proved unsatisfactory, and in October they were replaced by the S.E.5a single-seat fighter. MacLean was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 24 October, and promoted to captain in the Royal Engineers on 3 November. He gained his first aerial victory on 29 November, when he and Lieutenants Russell Winnicott, D. V. D. MacGregor, and Essell, shared in the driving down out of control of an Albatros D.V over Douai. The following day, 30 November, MacLean shared in the destruction of two more enemy aircraft; an Albatros D.V over Inchy-en-Artois with Lieutenant D. V. D MacGregor, and a Type C reconnaissance aircraft over Rumilly with Captain Meredith Thomas, and Lieutenants Russell Winnicott and Frank H. Taylor. On 9 January 1918 he shared in the driving down of a Rumpler C east of Marcoing with Second Lieutenants A. T. Isbell and Alfred Hemming, and on 3 February another Type C driven down north-west of Douai shared with Second Lieutenant G. A. Lippsett.
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