The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J McAdam

John McAdam was born in Gillingham, Kent on 21st March 1919, the son of John Lusk Torrens McAdam OBE MC (1893-1960) and Lily Margaret McAdam (nee Perks 1898-1941).

His father served with the 6th Battalion Black Watch in WW1 and was awarded the Military Cross, the citation reading:

2nd Lt. John Lusk Torrens McAdam, Royal Highlanders:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During our advance he showed splendid pluck and initiative, capturing a farm, where he took twenty prisoners and two machine guns with a section of his platoon. Although severely wounded, he continued to advance, captured a gun, and assisted in the capture of another machine gun, and when finally compelled to fall out owing to loss of blood, did not do so until he had given an accurate report to his commanding officer.

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The family was from Whitehead in County Antrim but his father was serving in an Army garrison in Kent at the time. John Jnr. grew up in Whitehead, attended the Public Elementary School and subsequently went to the Royal Belfast Academical Institution.

He joined the RAFVR on 28th April 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

He was called to full-time service at the outbreak of war, went to 4 ITW Bexhill on 30th October and moved on to 6 FTS Little Rissington on 9th December. With the course completed, McAdam was posted to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 19th June 1940.

After converting to Spitfires he joined 41 Squadron at Catterick.

McAdam claimed a Do17 destroyed on 7th September. On this day he crashed at Leonard Drive, Drakes Farm, Rayleigh after a combat over Hornchurch in Spitfire P9430. The aircraft partially burned out and was written off. McAdam was unhurt.

On the 23rd he was shot down during a squadron patrol off Dover in Spitfire N3118. McAdam baled out, was rescued from the sea and admitted to Dover Hospital.

He crashed at Globe Road, Hornchurch on 12th October after his engine cut on take-off. On the 25th McAdam claimed a Me109 destroyed.

He was shot down by Major Molders on 20th February 1941 over Dover, in Spitfire P7302. He baled out but was picked up dead from the sea.

McAdam is buried in Ballyharry Cemetery, Island Magee, County Antrim.