236995 Wing Co. Thomas MacDonald Buchanan MID.Royal Air Force 215 Squadon Thomas Buchanan was born on 14th of April 1914 and joined the RAF as a regular in 1935 or 1936 and became a pilot. He was a Pilot Officer in 1936, was promoted to F/O on 27th January 1937, then to Flt Lt on 27th January 1939. He was then promoted to Sqn Ldr on 1st September 1940, then to permanent Wg Cdr on 1st July 1947 (information from London Gazette and Flight). He became Station Commander of RAF Newton on 20th December 1954 when it was HQ of No 12 Group Fighter Command from 1946-1958.
In a copy of Flight dated 15th October 1936, page 395, it shows that he was posted to No 822 (FSR) Squadron on 26th September 1936. This is a Fleet Air Arm Squadron flying Fairey Seals, then Blackburn Sharks at the time. However, he was an RAF pilot flying in the Fleet Air Arm as was the case for all aircrew until the Admiralty took control on 24th May 1939.
He is shown on the Air Force List April 1938 in a Fleet Air Arm Unit list of flying officers with 822 Torpedo, Spotter Reconnaissance Sqn on 1st April 1937 on HMS Furious.
He became O.C. 215 Squadron. Here is a quote: "Wing Commander T. M. Buchanan arrived to assume command over the Squadron on 28th April 1945 - coming by air in a Dakota aircraft piloted by F/Lt. Jenkins. A party was held in the Officers' Mess that night for the double purpose of extending to him a very hearty welcome, and of celebrating the Squadron's impending departure and new duties."....
The squadron was equipped with Dakotas and was stationed in Burma dropping supplies to the 14th Army until Burma was cleared of the Japanese and in October the squadron was moved to Malaya. He maintained command until February 1946.
He became O.C. 110 Squadron from June 1946 to Aug 1946. Then he became O.C. 48 Squadron from February 1947 to October 1947.
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