FIGHTER PILOT
'McScotch'
ROUTLEDGE, London, 1936
"No, Mac", he replied "They'll never be able to 'get' you, but as sure as I'm talking to you now, that's the way they're going to finish me. The other fellows all laugh at my carrying a revolver, think I'm doing a bit of play-acting in going to shoot a machine down with it, but they're wrong—the reason I bought it was to finish myself as soon as I see the first sign of flames"
The 1936 1st edition of Fighter Pilot, the classic memoir of WW1 aerial warfare, written by a former Nieuport Scout and S.E.5 pilot and 'ace' who served alongside Mick Mannock V.C. with 40 Squadron R.F.C. on the Western Front. 'McScotch' was the pseudonym used by Lieutenant William McLanachan.
Despite having written this superb account of his time as front line fighter pilot, little is known about the rest of McLanachan's life, and he remains a somewhat controversial figure in the annals of WW1 aerial combat. He was educated at Dunfermline High School, and went on to be a medical student at Edinburgh University from 1914-15, before joing the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He served for two years as an infantry officer, during which time, according to the Dunfermline High School Roll of Honour, he single-handedly attacked a company of German cavalry and was recommended for the Mlitary Cross. In 1917 MacLanachan transferred to the RFC and was posted to No. 40 Squadron. He flew the Nieuport Scout, and the S.E.5. In 1918 he was posted to a home defence squadron, but only includes his service with No. 40 Squadron in France in this book. During his time with 40 Squadron he was officially credited with seven victories (some sources credit him with 12). After returning to England early in 1918 McLanachan is said to have resigned his commission in the RFC and resumed his pre-war medical studies. But that is pretty much all that is known about him.
Some doubt has been cast on the veracity of certain aspects of Fighter Pilot, partcularly the closeness of McLanachan's friendship with Mick Mannock. Gwilym Lewis, another ace serving with 40 Squadron at the time, accepted the general authenticty of the book, but disputed McLanachan's claim to be a friend of Mannock. It seems that 40 Squadron's pilots were often antagonistic towards each other, regularly falling out and holding grudges, and it is impossible to know if Lewis' opinion was correct, or whether he simply had some sort of personal animosity towards McLanachan.
Yet the account McLanachan presents in Fighter Pilot, and the details of the strained and difficult relationships within the squadron, has the ring of truth. Above all, this is book is an authentic account of life on a front line squadron, and an invaluable insight into the mind and character of Mannock, an enigmatic and much misunderstood figure.
Along with Victor Yeates' superb Winged Victory, McLanachan's Fighter Pilot is essential reading for anyone interested in the psychology of WW1 pilots and the incredible strain of combat flying.
Condition:
In very good condition. The boards are in very good condition, with some marks, slight fading to spine, and some wear at the edges. The binding and hinges are very good and secure. The text and plates are in very good condition, with some minor foxing to the title page, contents page, and edges of the text block.
Published: 1936
Blue boards with gilt titling
Illustrated with photographs and a fold-out map
Dimensions: 140mm x 220mm
Pages: 248
