LEST WE FORGET
Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Hamilton Murray MacLEAN DFC
Service No: 414311
Born: Rockhampton QLD, 12 December 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 September 1941
Unit: No. 608 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Downham Market
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 19 January 1945
Died: Air Operations: (No. 608 Squadron Mosquito aircraft KB197), Belgium, 5 March 1945, Aged 27 Years
Buried: Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Limburg, Belgium
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Hector Albert and Flora Maclean; husband of Sarah Beverley Maclean, of Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Baralaba QLD
Remembered: Panel 126, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFC Citation: “This officer was the pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Hanover one night in November 1944. At one stage on the outward flight, Flight Lieutenant MacLean temporarily lost consciousness. The aircraft went into a steep dive. Flight Lieutenant MacLean quickly recovered and, although the aircraft had lost much height, he succeeded in levelling out. A little later a fighter was encountered. The attacker opened fire several times but due skilful manoeuvring, Flight Lieutenant MacLean prevented his aircraft from being hit. The enemy aircraft was eventually evaded and Flight Lieutenant MacLean continued to the target, which he attacked at a height much lower than originally planned. He afterwards flew safely back to base. This officer has completed many sorties and has invariably displayed commendable skill, courage and devotion to duty.” (London Gazette 19 January 1945 Page 468)
On the night of 5 March 1945, Mosquito KB197 took off from Downham Market, detailed to attack Berlin. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft crashed near Braine-le-Comte (Hainaut), a small town on the Halle to Soignies road and about 6 kms north east from the latter. Both the crew members were killed.
The crew members of KB197 were:
Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Hamilton Murray MacLean DFC (414311) (Pilot)
Sergeant Richard Todd (1673062) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/26/837