MacLachlan was credited with 16 German and Italian aircraft shot down in approximately missionsβ7 were at night of which two were achieved over Malta in and 5 over France in He progressed quickly through flight training and was granted a commission as acting pilot officer on 3 May He completed his flight training in early and had considerable time to gain experience in operational types upon the outbreak of the Second World War.
When the Battle of France began in May he was serving with No. Surviving the battle he transferred to fighter pilot school in the summer During the Battle of Britain he served with No. He achieved a probable victory during the battle. MacLachlan was wounded in action on 16 February His arm was so severely damaged it was amputated, but he returned to operations in November with an artificial limb. MacLachlan joined No. In May he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order after claiming five more victories flying with Karel Kuttelwascher.
Coupled with the two over Malta it qualified him as a night fighter ace. By July MacLachlan's tally stood at 13 enemy aircraft shot down including 7 at night. In June he joined No. MacLachlan achieved his last 3 victories during these operationsβall in one missionβto bring his final tally to On 18 July the P Mustang in which he was flying was hit by German flak or suffered engine failure and crashed over France.
The Germans reported him as a prisoner of war but he died in a military hospital from his injuries. The MacLachlans lived in the family home in Styal, where Hugh was employed as an oil and chemical manufacturer until his premature death in from peritonitis. Following their father's death the family moved to Southampton to be close to Helen's parents. His influence resulted in James being enrolled at King Edward's evangelical school for two years.
After completing his preliminary education James became a boarder at Monkton Combe School near Bath, Somerset in September , aged James' brothers, Hugh Jnr, Gordon and Archie would later follow him through the same school. MacLachlan was not academic although he did excel at poetry. He attracted trouble at school by writing scurrilous rhymes about his contemporaries and members of staff.
