Ian Roy MacLennan

Ian Roy MacLennan DFM, FRAIC, MTPIC, RCAF (4 April 1919 – 6 November 2013), was a Canadian fighter pilot and flying ace during the Second World War who later became a successful architect.

Early life Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, with six siblings, Ian MacLennan was schooled in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan. He studied engineering at Saskatchewan University.

Second World War MacLennan was enlisted into the RCAF in October 1940. Following training, he graduated from training school in June 1941, arriving in England during that Summer.

Malta After service in Britain, flying sorties over France, in 1942 the RAF asked for desperately-needed volunteers (and their even more needed aircraft) to fight against Axis forces during the Siege of Malta. After damaging two Spitfires in an accident, MacLennan had fallen out of favor with his commanding officer and was asked to volunteer to go. On 9 June 1942, 32 pilots, MacLennan among them, headed towards Malta on board the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle. Roughly 1000 km (621 miles) from the island, the Spitfires were launched, attempting to fly through a hotbed of Axis aircraft and warships.

MacLennan flew with No. 1435 Squadron, based at RAF Luqa and formed a good relationship with Canadian aces Squadron Leader Tony Lovell and Flight Lieutenant Henry Wallace McLeod; Lovell witnessed his first victory.

Capture and escape After the siege ended, MacLennan returned home for a period of rest. During D-Day, on 7 June 1944, his Spitfire crash-landed in enemy territory whilst supporting the allied landings. Captured, he was sent to Stalag Luft III, where he subsequently escaped in 1945, as the war was drawing to a close. He himself died on 6 November 2013, survived by his two children.