Battle of Britain London Monument – F/O D C MacCaw 
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Privacy Statement The Airmen’s Stories – F/O D C MacCaw
Derek Charles MacCaw was born on 27th August 1915, the son of Captain Guy Hardy MacCaw MC, formerly of the 3rd Hussars, and Renee Minna MacCaw of Victoria, London.
He attended Marlborough College from 1929 to 1934 and then Kings College Cambridge, where he read Physics, Chemistry and Geography (see photo below).
He was a member of the University Air Squadron before he joined the RAF in June 1938 on a direct-entry permanent commission, one of a few offered each year to graduates of British and Commonwealth universities.
He commenced his flying training at 13 E&RFTS White Waltham on 4th April 1938, moving on 20th June to 9 FTS Hullavington and recieving his flying badge on 16th September 1938.
In January 1939 he went to No. 1 School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum. MacCaw joined 2 (Army Co-operation) Squadron at Hawkinge on 1st May 1939.
He went to France with the squadron on 27th September. MacCaw was taken ill and admitted to RAF Halton hospital on 15th January 1940, he was discharged on 8th February and assigned to No. 1 RAF Depot Uxbridge as non-effective sick.
MacCaw joined 238 Squadron when it was reformed at Tangmere on 16th May 1940. On 11th July he shared in the destruction of a Me110 of 9/ZG76 which made a forced-landing at Grange Heath, near Lulworth.
On 8th August MacCaw was shot down in combat over convoy Peewit, south of the Isle of Wight. He crashed into the Channel in Hurricane P3167.
MacCaw’s body was recovered by French villagers and he is buried in Senneville-sur-Fécamp churchyard in France.
Additional research and all images courtesy of Robin MacCaw, nephew.
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