James Johnston McLean
Born 5 Dec 1923 - Died 12 Jun 1944
- Service number
- NZ417080 AWMM
- WWII 417080 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Flight Sergeant (Pilot)/Military AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 165 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- James Johnston AWMM
- Surname
- McLean AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- NZ417080 AWMM
- WWII 417080 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 5 Dec 1923 Public Source
- Date of birth
- December 5th, 1923Public - Ian Banks - Researcher - 15 September 2020 - research
- Place of birth
- Auckland, New Zealand.Public - Ian Banks - Researcher - 15 September 2020 - research
- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
- Clerk, Justice Department, Auckland.Public - Ian Banks - Researcher - 15 September 2020 - research
- Next of kin
- Olive Claire McLean (wife), Royal Oak, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- WW2 Wife: Mrs. O. C. McLean of Auckland (1 Child) 1 Raurenga Avenue, Epsom, Auckland AWMM
- WW2 Parents: Mr. and Mrs. D. W. McLean of Aucklan AWMM
- Relationship status
- Married/WWII AWMM
- Pre 01 Sep 1942 AWMM Married AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- NZ417080 AWMM
- WWII 417080 AWMM
- Military service
- Royal New Zealand Air Force attached to Royal Air Force AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. 165 Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
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Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- Levin AWMM
- New Plymouth AWMM
- Woodbourne AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW2 Jun 1941 AWMM Clerk AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed on air operations AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Flight Sergeant (Pilot)/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 165 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- James McLean was the son of David William and Lizzie McLean, of Te Papapa, Auckland, New Zealand; husband of Olive Claire (nee Firth) McLean, of Epsom, Auckland.
Attended Te Papapa Primary and Otahuhu Technical High School. He enjoyed soccer, running and tennis, being captain 1st Soccer XI.
He died after returning from a successful operation over Europe in a Spitfire when a plane malfunction neccessitated a bale-out into the English Channel. Pilots saw James onto a semi-inflated rubber dinghy and had to leave after a few minutes, however when air-sea rescue service arrived, there was no sign of James, or the dinghy, only oil where the spitfire had submerged. A search until dark revealed no trace. The operation was just after 1pm in the afternoon.
Attended Seddon Memorial Technical College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845613)) AWMM - Operation: Rhubarb
Date: 12th June 1944 (Monday)
Unit: No. 165 Squadron
Type: Spitfire LF.IX
Serial: MK567
Code: SK-Q
Base: RAF Preddanack, Cornwall
Location: English Channel south of Start Point
Pilot: Sgt. James Johnston McLean NZ/417080 RNZAF Age 20.
Taking off at 11:30 hrs on Rhubarb 278 operation. After attacking a military transport convoy west of Lambelle, the remaining two Spitfires from the squadron started to return to RAF Preddanack.
Whilst over the English Channel Sgt. McLean reported that his aircraft was suffering problems with the engine. Some 8 minutes later he abandoned the aircraft 70 miles south of Start Point. The other Spitfire circled and saw the pilot holding onto the end of his dingy and that his parachute had half covered that. He was forced to return due to lack of fuel. Air sea rescue were dispatched to pick him up and searched till early evening, but no trace could be found.
The squadron had lost another experienced pilot, Sgt. James McLean had 450 hours in
his log book and this had been his 38th operation.
Also lost from the squadron during the same operation:
Spitfire IX MK471 SK-N Flown by 21 year old, P/O. Donald Moffat-Wilson 17334
RAFVR.
During this day 10 pilots were killed or missing, 2 injured with 6 others safe
after either baling out or crash landing. 10 Spitfires, 8 Typhoons lost.
Right: P/O. Donald Moffat-WilsonPublic - James - Direct descendant - 25 April 2018 - Aircrew Remembered Website
- James McLean was the son of David William and Lizzie McLean, of Te Papapa, Auckland, New Zealand; husband of Olive Claire (nee Firth) McLean, of Epsom, Auckland.
About death
- Death
- 12 Jun 1944 AWMM
Age 20 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
- Spitfire LF.IX
Serial: MK567
Code: SK-Q
Taking off at 11:30 hrs on Rhubarb 278 operation. After successfully attacking a military transport convoy west of Lambelle, (further research indicates they had taken heavy flak) the remaining two Spitfires from the squadron started to return to RAF Preddanack.
Whilst over the English Channel Sgt. McLean reported that his aircraft was suffering problems with the engine. Some 8 minutes later he abandoned the aircraft 70 miles south of Start Point. The other Spitfire circled and saw the pilot holding onto the end of his dingy and that his parachute had half covered that. He was forced to return due to lack of fuel. Air sea rescue were dispatched to pick him up and searched till early evening, but no trace could be found.
Also lost from the squadron during the same operation:
Spitfire IX MK471 SK-N Flown by 21 year old, P/O. Donald Moffat-Wilson 17334 RAFVR. During this day 10 pilots were killed or missing, 2 injured with 6 others safe after either baling out or crash landing. 10 Spitfires, 8 Typhoons lost.Public - James - Direct descendant - 30 April 2020 - http://aircrewremembered.com - Cemetery
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- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom AWMM
- Onehunga War Memorial Swimming Pool, Jellicoe Park (off Quadrant Road), Park Gardens, Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1079591
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ma - McW. Archives New Zealand (R17845613)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845613
Sources Used - List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. Archives New Zealand (R17845747)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845747
Sources Used - Aircrew Remembered:
https://aircrewremembered.com/james-mclean.htmlPublic - Antonio - Researcher - 1 April 2026 - Internet research
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
- References
- Information kindly provided by family
Otahuhu College Archives (2001) - Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
Martyn, E. (1998-2008). vol. 2 p. 237; vol. 3 p. 339 - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ma - McW. Archives New Zealand (R17845613) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing - But Presumed Dead on Lapse of Time - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845743)
- Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [List of Missing]. Archives New Zealand (R17845747)
- Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
- Information kindly provided by family
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