Malcolm C. McGregor
Encyclopedia
Captain Malcolm Charles McGregor was a New Zealand born World War I flying ace
. He was credited with 11 victories during the war. Postwar, he was an aviation pioneer in his home country and a competitor in intercontinental air racing.
in the Royal Flying Corps
. His first aerial success came on 6 June 1917, while he was with 54 Squadron. He used a Sopwith Pup
to destroy a German Albatros D.III
fighter southwest of Cambrai
, France.
He would not score another victory for almost a year. After transferring to 85 Squadron to pilot a SE.5a, he drove down an enemy reconnaissance plane over Armentières
on 29 May 1918. Three days later, on 1 June, he drove down a pair of Pfalz D.III
fighters over La Gorgue
, France. On 27 June 1918, he destroyed another German recon machine and became an ace.
On 24 July, he scored another double win southeast of Kemmel, Belgium, destroying one Fokker D.VII
and driving another out of combat. On 3 August, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII. Later in August, on the 22nd, he destroyed yet another Fokker D.VII. This was the action referred to when he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was not gazetted until 2 November 1918.
McGregor would next turn balloon buster
, destroying an enemy observation balloon
east of Maretz
, France on 8 October. He ended his string of triumphs by destroying another recon plane on 23 October 1918. His final tally was an observation balloon and five enemy airplanes destroyed, plus four planes driven down out of control.
on 3 June 1919. He was discharged from the Royal Air Force by being placed on the unemployed list on 17 July 1919.
in 1921. He also took part in civil aviation activities. He ran a barnstorming operation, Hamilton Airways. He flew a passenger route between Dunedin
and Christchurch
in a De Havilland DH.50 borrowed from the New Zealand government. He flew some pioneering airmail routes throughout New Zealand. In late April 1929, he participated in the New Zealand Air Pageant, entering a de Havilland Gypsy Moth from Hamilton Airways.
in a Simmonds Spartan
. In 1932, he became chief instructor to the Manawatu Aero Club. By 1934, he had risen to the rank of Squadron Leader
in the RNZAF, and had 3,300 flying hours in his pilot's log.
He was one of the contestants in the MacRobertson Air Race
in October 1934. He and his copilot completed the course, Mildenhall
to Melbourne
, in 7 days 15 hours, in a Miles Hawk Major
. Following the race, he became a director of Union Airlines of New Zealand.
McGregor was killed in an air crash at Wellington, New Zealand.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. He was credited with 11 victories during the war. Postwar, he was an aviation pioneer in his home country and a competitor in intercontinental air racing.
World War I
On 7 April 1917, McGregory was appointed a Flying OfficerFlying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. His first aerial success came on 6 June 1917, while he was with 54 Squadron. He used a Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
to destroy a German Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
fighter southwest of Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
, France.
He would not score another victory for almost a year. After transferring to 85 Squadron to pilot a SE.5a, he drove down an enemy reconnaissance plane over Armentières
Armentières
Armentières is a commune in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole, and lies on the Belgian border, northwest of the city of Lille, on the right bank of the river Lys....
on 29 May 1918. Three days later, on 1 June, he drove down a pair of Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
fighters over La Gorgue
La Gorgue
-References:*...
, France. On 27 June 1918, he destroyed another German recon machine and became an ace.
On 24 July, he scored another double win southeast of Kemmel, Belgium, destroying one Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
and driving another out of combat. On 3 August, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII. Later in August, on the 22nd, he destroyed yet another Fokker D.VII. This was the action referred to when he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was not gazetted until 2 November 1918.
McGregor would next turn balloon buster
Balloon buster
Balloon busters were military pilots known for destroying enemy observation balloons. These pilots were noted for their fearlessness. Seventy-six fighter pilots in World War I were each credited with destroying five or more balloons, and thus were balloon aces....
, destroying an enemy observation balloon
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
east of Maretz
Maretz
-References:*...
, France on 8 October. He ended his string of triumphs by destroying another recon plane on 23 October 1918. His final tally was an observation balloon and five enemy airplanes destroyed, plus four planes driven down out of control.
1919
McGregor was one of the officers awarded a Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross as a birthday gift from his sovereignMonarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
on 3 June 1919. He was discharged from the Royal Air Force by being placed on the unemployed list on 17 July 1919.
The 1920s
McGregor joined the Royal New Zealand Air ForceRoyal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
in 1921. He also took part in civil aviation activities. He ran a barnstorming operation, Hamilton Airways. He flew a passenger route between Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
and Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
in a De Havilland DH.50 borrowed from the New Zealand government. He flew some pioneering airmail routes throughout New Zealand. In late April 1929, he participated in the New Zealand Air Pageant, entering a de Havilland Gypsy Moth from Hamilton Airways.
The 1930s
By the end of 1931, he was reported carrying air mail from Invercargill, New Zealand to AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in a Simmonds Spartan
Simmonds Spartan
|-See also:-External links:*...
. In 1932, he became chief instructor to the Manawatu Aero Club. By 1934, he had risen to the rank of Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
in the RNZAF, and had 3,300 flying hours in his pilot's log.
He was one of the contestants in the MacRobertson Air Race
MacRobertson Air Race
The MacRobertson Trophy Air Race took place October, 1934 as part of the Melbourne Centenary celebrations. The idea of the race was devised by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, and a prize fund of $75,000 was put up by Sir Macpherson Robertson, a wealthy Australian confectionery manufacturer, on the...
in October 1934. He and his copilot completed the course, Mildenhall
Mildenhall
Mildenhall could be*Mildenhall, Suffolk, a town in England.*Mildenhall, Wiltshire, a village in England.*RAF Mildenhall, an air force base near Mildenhall, Suffolk.*The Mildenhall photographic collection, created by William James Mildenhall....
to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, in 7 days 15 hours, in a Miles Hawk Major
Miles Hawk Major
-See also:-Bibliography:* Amos, Peter. and Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. ISBN 0-85177-787-0....
. Following the race, he became a director of Union Airlines of New Zealand.
McGregor was killed in an air crash at Wellington, New Zealand.