High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Air Vice Marshal Ian Dougald McLachlan CB, CBE, DFC (23 July 1911 – 14 July 1991) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Born in Melbourne, he was a cadet at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, before joining the Air Force in December 1930. After serving in instructional and general flying roles, he took command of No. 3 Squadron in December 1939, leading it into action in the Middle East less than a year later. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, he returned to Australia in 1942 to command air bases in Canberra and Melbourne. The following year he was posted to the South West Pacific, where he led Nos. 71 and 73 Wings. Having been promoted to Group Captain, he took charge of RAAF Southern Area in 1944, and No. 81 Wing in the Dutch East Indies the following year.