Hurricane Mk IIb, AX-M, Z5438, N° 1 Squadron, L.G.92, Egypt, July 1942. Piloted by that man of the world, Lt. "Jerks" Maclean.
That man of the world, ' Jerks' Maclean reclining in his easy chair. The artwork painted under the cockpit, was taken from a 1940's South African cigarette brand called 'MAX'. Their slogan was, "Men of the world smoke MAX'. It was from this, that Lt. 'Jerks' Maclean, became known as, that 'Man of the World'. The aircraft was coded AX-M, but was known as MAX. Flying this aircraft, he shot down a Ju-87B on the 3rd July 1942. The squadron mission on this day, was to become known as the "Stuka Party". This was during the early and desperate days of the first battle of El Alamein, where the Allies had formed defensive positions after constantly being on the retreat. Intelligence was received from N° 244 Wing Operations, that Ju-87 'Stuka' dive-bombing attacks were expected in the early evening of the 3rd July, and that their target would be the Eighth Army troops in the El Alamein line, map reference 883285. N° 1 squadron was tasked to go on standby, wait for the scramble order to come through, route to the target, and defend the troops at all costs. After learning that there were also South African units in this area, they appreciated being the fighter squadron chosen to defend their brothers on the ground. N° 274 Squadron (RAF), with the callsign "Landlord", were to provide top cover, and N° 1 Squadron was to ignore any Me-109 fighter escorts and only concentrate on destroying the enemy dive-bombers. The scramble order came through and the first of eleven Hurricanes took-off from L.G. 92 at 18:40, and routed to the target. The 11 aircraft were divided into three sections, Red, Yellow and Blue. Lt. "Jerks' Maclean, flying as 'Yellow 2', made these notes in the sortie report: Aircraft M: Lt. Maclean: When the Major tallyhoed on the Stukas, the squadron attacked as the Stukas peeled off. I turned left to investigate aircraft coming in from the rear, but as they turned off, I joined the Hurricanes and closed in on a Stuka from 100 yds, in a quarter-astern attack, firing a long burst. Smoke began to come from him, and I overshot him. As I pulled up, I saw him burn on the ground. During the combat I saw Hurricanes V,C, and E shoot down Stukas. Result: 1 Ju.87B destroyed. By 19:45 the last of the Hurricanes had returned to L.G.92. The mission had been an outstanding success, with only one Hurricane failing to return. It's pilot Lt. Ray Connell having crash landed at Burg El Arab after being hit by the rear gunner of a 'Stuka' he was attacking. He returned by truck though, not long after the Hurricanes had landed. The final squadron tally was: 13 out of 15 Stukas destroyed, 1 Me-109F destroyed and 1 Me-109F damaged.
That man of the world, ' Jerks' Maclean reclining in his easy chair. The artwork painted under the cockpit, was taken from a 1940's South African cigarette brand called 'MAX'. Their slogan was, "Men of the world smoke MAX'. It was from this, that Lt. 'Jerks' Maclean, became known as, that 'Man of the World'. The aircraft was coded AX-M, but was known as MAX. Flying this aircraft, he shot down a Ju-87B on the 3rd July 1942. The squadron mission on this day, was to become known as the "Stuka Party". This was during the early and desperate days of the first battle of El Alamein, where the Allies had formed defensive positions after constantly being on the retreat. Intelligence was received from N° 244 Wing Operations, that Ju-87 'Stuka' dive-bombing attacks were expected in the early evening of the 3rd July, and that their target would be the Eighth Army troops in the El Alamein line, map reference 883285. N° 1 squadron was tasked to go on standby, wait for the scramble order to come through, route to the target, and defend the troops at all costs. After learning that there were also South African units in this area, they appreciated being the fighter squadron chosen to defend their brothers on the ground. N° 274 Squadron (RAF), with the callsign "Landlord", were to provide top cover, and N° 1 Squadron was to ignore any Me-109 fighter escorts and only concentrate on destroying the enemy dive-bombers. The scramble order came through and the first of eleven Hurricanes took-off from L.G. 92 at 18:40, and routed to the target. The 11 aircraft were divided into three sections, Red, Yellow and Blue. Lt. "Jerks' Maclean, flying as 'Yellow 2', made these notes in the sortie report: Aircraft M: Lt. Maclean: When the Major tallyhoed on the Stukas, the squadron attacked as the Stukas peeled off. I turned left to investigate aircraft coming in from the rear, but as they turned off, I joined the Hurricanes and closed in on a Stuka from 100 yds, in a quarter-astern attack, firing a long burst. Smoke began to come from him, and I overshot him. As I pulled up, I saw him burn on the ground. During the combat I saw Hurricanes V,C, and E shoot down Stukas. Result: 1 Ju.87B destroyed. By 19:45 the last of the Hurricanes had returned to L.G.92. The mission had been an outstanding success, with only one Hurricane failing to return. It's pilot Lt. Ray Connell having crash landed at Burg El Arab after being hit by the rear gunner of a 'Stuka' he was attacking. He returned by truck though, not long after the Hurricanes had landed. The final squadron tally was: 13 out of 15 Stukas destroyed, 1 Me-109F destroyed and 1 Me-109F damaged.
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Photo via Tinus le Roux
Photo via Tinus le Roux
Photo via Tinus le Roux
MAX cigarette tins from the 1940's.
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Brent Best
