McCairns, James Atterby "Mac"

Date of birth:: September 21st, 1919 (Niagara Falls/New York, United States)
Date of death:: June 13th, 1948 (East of RAF Finningley)
Service number:: 125754/91315
Nationality:: British

Biography

The father of Jimmy McCairns was an engineer working in the USA at the time of his birth. When he was twelve years old they removed to England.
Six months before war broke out, McCairns volunteered in the RAFVR, In 1940 he was a Sergeant-pilot flying Spitfires with No. 616 Squadron which was lead by Douglas Bader.
On July 8th, 1941 he was shot down, wounded and captured by the Germans. A few years ago some photo's came to light of his crashed plane and McCairns being carried away on a stretcher barrier.
His first escape failed. He made a second succesful escape though from Stalag IXC (Bad Sulza) in January 1942 and was brought to Gibraltar by the Belgian Comete escape line. He was interviewed by a MI9 officer who supported his wish to join the Lysander Special Duties Squadron although McCairns did not meet the qualifications. He succeeded at this and was posted at No. 161 Squadron, flying moonlight missions in modified black Lysanders, picking up secret agents in fields somewhere in France by night and/or delivering other agents or parcels (mostly money and weapons).
McCairns was killed in 1948 in a flying accident in a Mosquito and lies buried on East Retford Cemetery Nottinghamshire, Grave Section CC, Grave Number 81.

Promotions:
? Temporay Flight Sergeant
May 1st, 1942: Pilot Officer (probation/emergency)
November 1st, 1942: Flying Officer (probation/war sub)
May 1st, 1944: Flight Lieutenant (war sub)
May 3th, 1947: dienst bij de Auxiliary Air Force als Flight Lieutenant

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Military Medal (MM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flight Sergeant
Unit:: Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: August 18th, 1942

Received for escaping from Stalag IXC and returning to England via Spain. He was shotdown in Spitfire P8500 on 6 July 1941, escaped, came in contact with the Belgian Comet Line, crossed the Pyrenees in March 1942.

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flying Officer
Unit:: No. 161 (Special Duties) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: April 16th, 1943

Citation:
"This officer has completed many sorties, most of them of a hazardous nature. He is a courageous and determined pilot, who has set an example worthy of the highest praise.

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Flying Officer
Unit:: No. 161 (Special Duties) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: August 13th, 1943

Citation:
"This officer has completed numerous sorties, displaying a high degree of skill and determination throughout."

Second DFC awarded as a ba r for on the ribbon of the first DFC.

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Flight Lieutenant
Unit:: No. 161 (Special Duties) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:: January 14th, 1944

Citation:
"Since being awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, Flight Lieutenant McCairns has participated in a large number of successful operational missions. He is a model of efficiency and his example of determination and devotion to duty has won great praise."

Third DSO awarded as second bar for on the ribbon of the first DFC.

Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Sources

Photo 1: Musée de la Reddition de Reims (CC Attribution Share Alike 3.0)
- VERITY, HUGH, We Landed By Moonlight, Crecy Publishing, 1998.
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35671 published on the 14 August 1942
- Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35981 published on the 13 April 1943
- Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36131 published on the 10 August 1943
- Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36329 published on the 11 January 1944
- This is Lincolnshire
- RAF Commands 1939-1945
- Aviation Safety Network