Malcolm George MacLeod C/1106 Squadron Leader Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron 429 (RAF) October 11, 1917 River John, Pictou Co., NS July 29, 1939 Halifax, NS River John, Pictou Co., NS 21 Staff Writer, Canadian Press (Ontario) Presbyterian Single Hector Bruce MacLeod (Father) Pictou, NS March 11, 1943 25 Malta Memorial Malcolm MacLeod was the only son of Hector Bruce MacLeod (d.1939) and Mary Lane (Colter) MacLeod, of Pictou, NS. He was a brother of Gertrude, Lillian (d. 1943), and Mary Louise MacLeod. On October 23, 1933, Malcolm enlisted with the 1st Battalion Pictou Highlanders as part of the non-permanent Militia of Canada. He obtained a 1st Class Signalling Certificate (#7629) on December 2, 1933 and completed annual training in 1934, 1935 and 1936. He was a student at the time. He enjoyed tennis, golf, swimming, basketball, badminton and was a semi- finalist in tennis in a county tournament. He also did extensive ocean sailing. He completed high school at Pictou Academy (1937), one year at Dalhousie University/King’s College (1937-1938) before taking employment as a reporter with the Pictou Advocate for seven months and with the Canadian Press Toronto, Ontario as an editor. Priot to his enlistment he was working toward a private flying licence. Following enlistment with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Malcolm completed training at No 1 Air Navigation School RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario, on June 25, 1940, and at No 2 Service Flying Training School, RCAF Station Uplands, Ontario and training at No. 9 Service Flying Training School (SFTS), operated under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan at Summerside, PEI on December 4, 1941. Proceeding overseas Malcolm was appointed Squadron Commander of 429 Squadron at Malta. On March 11, 1943 while serving with RAF Squadron 429 he was flying spitfire (MkVb EP519) departing at 9:20 am on a rhubarb sortie over Sicily, strafing a train in the Comiso area and failed to return from the air operation. It is believed he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire south west of Comiso; however, the aircraft was never found. No. 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF was active in the sea-patrol, fighter, and bomber roles. It was the top scoring fighter squadron of the RAF in World War II. In May 1941, No. 249 was transferred to Malta. There it formed part of the fighter defences, converting to Spitfires in February 1942. Fighter bomber missions over Sicily began in November 1942 and continued until October 1943 when the squadron moved to Italy.