The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. I L McG Hallam
 

Ian Lewis McGregor Hallam was born on the Second of November 1918 in Edinburgh. It was about this time that he got the nickname "Toddy", due to the fact that he had been named after his Uncle Ian, who had been killed in the trenches during the First World War, He was educated at Repton School and learnt to fly at the Phillips and Powis Aircraft Ltd. Training School under the auspices of the Royal Air Force. He first flew solo on 5 April 1937 in a Hawk Trainer.

After his training he was posted to No. 2 Squadron based at Hawkinge. On 3rd September 1939 War was declared on Germany and No. 2 Squadron was posted to Abbeville / Senon / Labiusuere region in Northern France on 6 September. Whilst in Abbeville he carried out frequent reconnaissance flights over the field of battle until 19 May 1940, when the Squadron was sent back to Britain due to the Germans' advance.

In July 1940 he was sent to the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) at Heston in Middlesex for training. In August 1940 he was then posted to No. 225 (A.C.) Squadron at Tilshead in Wiltshire. Here he was trained in the flying of Fighter aircraft, particularly the Spitfire. At the beginning of October 1940 he was posted to No.222 Squadron based at Hornchurch in Essex. He was one of the few experienced pilots available to supplement the exhausted Battle of Britain Pilots. During this period with No. 222 Squadron he flew up to 4 sorties a day. On the 17 October he claimed damaging an M.E. 109 and between the 2 October and the 25 October he claimed 1 M.E. 109 destroyed, 2 damaged and 1 probable. This short period with No.222 Squadron entered him as one of the FEW,

On the 27 September he was posted to No.73 Squadron at Castle Camps in Suffolk. He was only at Castle Camps for a short time culminating in a crash landing on 3 November 1940 near Redhill, due to poor visibility.

After several postings in the UK he was posted to No. 21 Air School of the South African Air force based in Kimberley. And then onto No. 20 S.F.T.S. Royal Air Force at Cranbourne in Southern Rhodesia. He remained with this unit until June 1942. At the end of this posting he was promoted to Squadron Leader and returned to active flying as a photo - reconnaissance pilot.

He was flying unarmed Hurricanes on Tactical Photo- Reconnaissance missions and on 24 August 1942 he failed to return from his mission over the El Alamein battlefield. On 26 September 1942 the Germans broadcast his name as having been captured and he was now a Prisoner of War.

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At Stalag Luft III he was appointed "Room Fuhrer" of Room 8, Block 62, as he was the most senior Officer in the room. On or about 11 February 1945 the prisoners met up with some Americans and were freed from their captivity. From April 1945 until October 1945 he was on repatriation leave.

Following further courses he was appointed to the position of Officer Commanding the Aberdeen University Air Squadron. On 10 May 1952, whilst flying a training flight in a Chipmunk with Cadet officer John Lawrie the aircraft they were in a crash causing the death of both occupants.