Museum honour for ‘Forgotten Air Ace’
● Archie Mckellar shot down first German aircraft on British soil
A Second World War hero known as the “Forgotten Air Ace”, despite shooting down the first German aircraft on British soil, has been honoured in one of Scotland’s leading museums.
A panel from the plane shot down by Paisley-born Archie Mckellar in October 1939 has pride of place in the new displays honouring the squadron leader at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.
Mckellar, a member of the 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, was responsible for shooting down 21 German aircraft during the first few months of the conflict.
However, his name was controversially left off the Royal Air Force’s official Battle of Britain roll of honour as he was thought to have died eight hours after it ended.
Now Kelvingrove has decided to pay tribute to Mckellar as part of a showcase of exhibits drawn from his squadron’s collections. Also on show in the museum’s Conflict and Consequences Gallery are letters he wrote and received, photographs and a portrait, together with a uniform representing the one he would have worn to protect him from the freezing temperatures at higher altitudes.
Mckellar, who was born in 1912, grew up fascinated by stories of First World War pilots. He joined the Scottish Flying Club, which was based at Renfrew Airport, when he was 21.
This brought him to the attention of Douglas Douglas-hamilton, Lord Clydesdale, commander of the 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, which was based at nearby RAF Abbotsinch.
Following the outbreak of war in September 1939, the Spitfires of 602 Squadron were posted to RAF Drem in East Lothian.
After shooting down a Heinkel HE-111 bomber over Humbie on 28 October, Mckellar would go on to become a hugely successful and decorated pilot.
He was just 28 when he was killed shortly after 8am on 1 November 1940 when his Hurricane plane crashed after being hit by enemy fire above Kent. Government officials later ruled the Battle of Britain had only lasted until midnight on 31 October.
John Messner, curator at Glasgow Museums, who worked with 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron to create the display, said: “Archie’s story is a fantastic addition to the displays already to be found in the Conflict and Consequences Gallery, which give insight into the human impact of war.
“The objects bring his story to life and it is thanks for the 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron Museum that these have been saved for posterity.”
Rod dy mac greg or, honorary secretary of the 602 Squadron Museum Association, said: ‘We’ve relished the opportunity to work with the team at Glasgow Museums to create this new display on the squadron’s actions at the start of the war.”