Hugh Gordon Malcolm

Wing Commander Hugh Gordon Malcolm, VC (2 May 1917 – 4 December 1942) was a Scottish airman. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, posthumously for "valour and unswerving devotion to duty" flying light bombers in the North Africa campaign .

Early life Malcolm was born in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, and educated at Craigflower Preparatory School near Dunfermline and Glenalmond College in Perthshire. He entered the Royal Air Force College Cranwell on 9 January 1936, receiving a commission in 1937. In January 1938, Malcolm joined No. 26 (Army Co-operation) Squadron at Catterick. In May 1939, he suffered a serious head injury in a Westland Lysander crash. It was thought he would not be able to return to flying but he recovered and rejoined his squadron in September.

Second World War When the war started, Malcolm was serving with No. 17 Training Group. he was promoted to flight lieutenant in September 1940 In December 1941 he was promoted to temporary squadron leader and was Air Liaison Officer on Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery's general staff.

By the end of 1941 Malcolm had risen to the rank of squadron leader and joined No. 18 Squadron as a flight commander, flying the Bristol Blenheim light bomber and based in Suffolk. The squadron flew Mark IV aircraft attacking German night fighter airfields in support of Bomber Command raids.

In September 1942 he was promoted to acting wing commander before the squadron moved to North Africa to join 326 Wing.

During late 1942 in North Africa, Wing Commander Malcolm assumed command of No. 18 Squadron, flying the new Mk. V version of the Bristol Blenheim light bomber. Throughout his service in that sector, "his leadership, skill and daring were of the highest order". Shortly after an urgent request for support was received from First Army to attack the area again. Despite the immense danger of attacking without fighter cover Malcolm considered it his duty. Ten aircraft set off in tight formation but one had to crash land only fifteen miles from Souk-el-Arba.

Malcolm's aircraft crashed in flames some 15 miles west of the target. An infantry officer and two other men who arrived at the scene of the crash minutes later retrieved the body of navigator Pilot Officer James Robb. Malcolm, with Robb and gunner Pilot Officer James Grant, were buried in the Beja War Cemetery in a collective grave. Malcolm was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on 27 April 1943; for his actions in North Africa and the final sortie. The award stated that "Wing Commander Malcolm's last exploit was the finest example of the valour and unswerving devotion to duty which he constantly displayed". although the club at RAF Wittering continued until the 1990s. The name had been suggested by Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Secretary of State for Air, during visit to Algiers in 1943 They are mentioned in Queen's Regulations.

Malcolm's Victoria Cross is on display in the Lord Ashcroft collection at the Imperial War Museum, London.