Hugh Malcolm

Who was Hugh Malcolm?

Wing Commander Hugh Gordon Malcolm VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Born at Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Malcolm entered the Royal Air Force College Cranwell on 9 January 1936. In January 1938, he joined 26 squadron at Catterick. In May 1939, he suffered a serious head injury in a Westland Lysander crash. When the war started, Malcolm was serving with No 17 Training Group. On 4 March 1941, he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and was Air Liaison officer on General Bernard Montgomery's general staff.

By the end of 1941 he had risen to the rank of Squadron Leader and joined No 18 Squadron as a flight commander, flying the Bristol Blenheim based in Suffolk, UK.

During late 1942 in North Africa, Wing Commander Malcolm commanded No 18 Squadron, 326 Wing, flying the Bristol Blenheim Mk. V light bomber. Throughout his service in that sector, his skill and daring were of the highest order. He led two attacks on Bizerta airfield, pressing his attacks to effective conclusion.

On 17 November 1942, the squadron were detailed to carry out an attack on Bizerta, taking advantage of low cloud cover. Twenty miles from the target, the sky cleared, but despite the danger of continuing without a fighter escort, Malcolm decided to go ahead. Despite fierce opposition, the mission was a success with all bombs dropped within the airfield perimeter, and a Junkers Ju 52 and Messerschmitt Bf 109 were shot down, with other enemy aircraft damaged on the ground by machine-gun fire.