James Johnston McLean
I whānau mai i te 5 Dec 1923 - I mate atu i te 12 Jun 1944
- Nama Hōia
- NZ417080 AWMM
- WWII 417080 AWMM
- Ingoa kārangaranga
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- Te Ope o Tū / te peka
- Air Force AWMM
- Te tūnga whakamutunga
- Flight Sergeant (Pilot)/Military AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 165 Squadron AWMM
- Pakanga
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
E pā ana ki
- Taitara
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- Ngā ingoa tuatahi
- James Johnston AWMM
- Ingoa whānau
- McLean AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Ingoa kārangaranga
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- Nama Hōia
- NZ417080 AWMM
- WWII 417080 AWMM
- Ira tangata
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Pono
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Mātātuhi
Ngā tuhinga
Te whānautanga
- Whānautanga mai
- 5 Dec 1923 Public Source
- Rā i whānau mai ai
- December 5th, 1923Public - Ian Banks - Researcher - 15 September 2020 - research
- Wāhi Whānau
- Auckland, New Zealand.Public - Ian Banks - Researcher - 15 September 2020 - research
- Tuhinga mō te whānautanga
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- Wāhi noho i mua i te whakaurunga
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- Mahi whai muri i te pakanga
- Clerk, Justice Department, Auckland.Public - Ian Banks - Researcher - 15 September 2020 - research
- Uri kiritahi
- 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
- Mēnā he hoa rangatira tōna
- Married/WWII AWMM
- Pre 01 Sep 1942 AWMM Married AWMM
Ngā pakanga me ngā whawhai
- Pakanga
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Kauhanga riri
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Te Ope o Tū / te peka
- Air Force AWMM
- Nama Hōia
- NZ417080 AWMM
- WWII 417080 AWMM
- Urunga ki te ope taua
- Royal New Zealand Air Force attached to Royal Air Force AWMM
- Whakapikinga / Tukunga / Whakawhitinga
- Royal Air Force, No. 165 Squadron AWMM
Ngā tohu taumata rau ope taua
- Mētara me ngā Tohu
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Te Whakangungu me te Urunga atu
- Whakangungu ope taua
- Levin AWMM
- New Plymouth AWMM
- Woodbourne AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Te urunga
- WW2 Jun 1941 AWMM Clerk AWMM
- Pakeke i te whakaurunga
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- Mahi i mua i te ekenga waka
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Te maha o ngā ekenga waka
- Taipitopito ekenga waka
- WW2 Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Mauhere o te pakanga
- Kia mau ki ngā taipitopito
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- Ngā rā i mauherehia ai
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- Rā i puta ai
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- Ngā kōrero mō te puta i te mauhere pakanga
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- Te rā i whakahokia atu ngā hōia i mauherehia ai
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- Nama motuhake mō te mauhere pakanga
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Whakapapa hauora
- Tuhinga hauora
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed on air operations AWMM
Te tūnga whakamutunga e mōhiotia ana
- Te tūnga whakamutunga
- Flight Sergeant (Pilot)/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 165 Squadron AWMM - Te tūnga whakamutunga
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Kōrero taurongo
- 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.
Te matenga
- Matenga
- 12 Jun 1944 AWMM
Age 20 AWMM - Rā i mate ai
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- Pakeke i te matenga
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- Wāhi Mate
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- Te momo matenga
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Tuhipoka mō te matenga
- 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 - Urupā
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- Ingoa o te urupā
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- Tohutoro kōhatu urupā
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- Pānui Matenga
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- Ingoa maumaharatanga
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- Tohutoro maumaharatanga
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Maumaharatanga
- Ingoa maumaharatanga
- 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
Mea e whai hononga ai
Ngā mātāwai
- Hononga ki waho
- 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
- Ngā tuhinga
- 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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