World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, Scotland, during the Second World War he served in the 18th Squadron of the Royal Air Force, and was put in command of a squadron of light bombers in North Africa. On November 17, 1942, he took advantage of cloud cover to attack a German air base at Bizerte, the most Northerly town in Africa. Twenty miles from the target, the sky cleared, but he continued, without a fighter escort. Two of the British aircraft collided with each other, and a third was shot down by enemy fighters, but the Squadron succeeded in unloading all their bombs on the airfield. On November 27, 1842 he led another attack, at low altitude, on the same airfield. It was met with very intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire; but, after having completed the attack, Wing Commander Malcolm led his men back to attack the airfield repeatedly with their machine guns. On December 4, 1942 the Squadron was detailed to give support to the British First Army by attacking a fighter airfield near Chouigui, Tunisia. There was no time to arrange a fighter escort, but the Squadron reached their target and attacked it. They were intercepted by a strong force of enemy fighters, and fought back, but all aircraft were lost, with Hugh Malcolm being the last to be shot down.
World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, Scotland, during the Second World War he served in the 18th Squadron of the Royal Air Force, and was put in command of a squadron of light bombers in North Africa. On November 17, 1942, he took advantage of cloud cover to attack a German air base at Bizerte, the most Northerly town in Africa. Twenty miles from the target, the sky cleared, but he continued, without a fighter escort. Two of the British aircraft collided with each other, and a third was shot down by enemy fighters, but the Squadron succeeded in unloading all their bombs on the airfield. On November 27, 1842 he led another attack, at low altitude, on the same airfield. It was met with very intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire; but, after having completed the attack, Wing Commander Malcolm led his men back to attack the airfield repeatedly with their machine guns. On December 4, 1942 the Squadron was detailed to give support to the British First Army by attacking a fighter airfield near Chouigui, Tunisia. There was no time to arrange a fighter escort, but the Squadron reached their target and attacked it. They were intercepted by a strong force of enemy fighters, and fought back, but all aircraft were lost, with Hugh Malcolm being the last to be shot down.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
Family Members
Advertisement
