Hugh Gordon Malcolm

Wing Commander, 18 Squadron. Royal Air Force

Register No.: 826 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Wing Commander all Wing Commanders →
Unit: 18 Squadron. Royal Air Force (register: No. 18 Squadron RAF) all No. 18 Squadron RAF VCs →
Date of action: 4 December 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
Conflict / campaign: Second World War
London Gazette: 27th April, 1943 on this day → all of 1943 →
Born: 2nd May 1917 at Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Scotland
Died: in action on 4th December 1942 attacking an enemy airfields
Award: Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
Memorial / grave: at Beja War Cemetery, Tunisia

Digest of citation

Wing Commander Malcolm commanded a squadron of light bombers in North Africa from November to December 1942. His skill and daring, in that office, was of the highest. On 17th November 1942, taking advantage of cloud cover set out to attack Bizerte. 20 miles from target the sky cleared. Wing Commander Malcolm carried on without fighter escort, knowing well the dangers. Despite strong opposition, all bombs fell on the airfield. As a result of bad weather conditions two of his own aircraft collided and another was lost to enemy fighters. Similarly, on the 27th November 1942 he again led an attack on the same airfield at low altitude. This time Bizerte met the attack with intense, accurate anti-aircraft fire. Nevertheless, after completing their attack, Wing Commander Malcolm led them back, again, and again, to attack the airfield with machine-gun fire.. On 4th December 1942, they were detailed to give close supporter the First Army by attacking a fighter airfield near Chouigui. There was no time to arrange a fighter escort so Malcolm decided to attack. They reached their target without incident and attacked it. They were intercepted by a strong force of enemy fighters, they fought back but lost all aircraft but his own. Finally, he too was shot down in flames

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

MALCOLM, Hugh Gordon. (reg No. 826).

Wing Commander. 18 Squadron. Royal Air Force.

London Gazetted on 27th April, 1943.

Born on 2nd May 1917 at Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Scotland.

Killed in action on 4th December 1942 attacking an enemy airfields at Cheudgui Memorial on grave at Beja War Cemetery, Tunisia.

Digest of Citation reads: Wing Commander Malcolm commanded a squadron of light bombers in North Africa from November to December 1942. His skill and daring, in that office, was of the highest. On 17th November 1942, taking advantage of cloud cover set out to attack Bizerte. 20 miles from target the sky cleared. Wing Commander Malcolm carried on without fighter escort, knowing well the dangers. Despite strong opposition, all bombs fell on the airfield. As a result of bad weather conditions two of his own aircraft collided and another was lost to enemy fighters. Similarly, on the 27th November 1942 he again led an attack on the same airfield at low altitude. This time Bizerte met the attack with intense, accurate anti-aircraft fire. Nevertheless, after completing their attack, Wing Commander Malcolm led them back, again, and again, to attack the airfield with machine-gun fire.. On 4th December 1942, they were detailed to give close supporter the First Army by attacking a fighter airfield near Chouigui. There was no time to arrange a fighter escort so Malcolm decided to attack. They reached their target without incident and attacked it. They were intercepted by a strong force of enemy fighters, they fought back but lost all aircraft but his own. Finally, he too was shot down in flames

at Cheudgui

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Alf recorded the memorial as: at Beja War Cemetery, Tunisia

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