Vimy Anniversary...

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Canadian war hero makes triumphant return to former battleground

Spitfire Ace goes back to Malta where he is given a hero's welcome

TORONTO, April 17 /CNW/ - After 66 years, Canadian war hero, Ian
Maclennan, DFM returned to Malta, where as a Spitfire pilot he gunned down
enemy aircraft during World War II.
On his recent trip to the island, Mr. Maclennan visited the Spitfire
exhibited at the Malta Aviation Museum where he was greeted by the press and
people of the island who gave him a hero's welcome. The World War II flying
ace was treated much like a celebrity as he signed autographs and gave an
interview to the national newspaper, Times of Malta.
In 1940, Malta, a small, densely-populated island in the Mediterranean
Sea, found itself at the heart of a raging battle between Allied and Axis
powers. Mr. Maclennan arrived in July 1942. He gunned down several enemy
aircraft and was eventually promoted to flight lieutenant of 1435 Squadron. He
continued to fly with RAF Squadrons until D-Day when he was shot down over
France.
At some points during his visit, Mr. Maclennan became teary eyed as he
described the devastating bombing he witnessed during his time in Malta.
"Even then, I recall it was merciless - destroying cities that were not a
menace to Germany," Mr. Maclennan told a reporter from Times of Malta.
Mr. Maclennan was in Malta shooting for a documentary series for History
Television in Canada. Produced by Toronto-based Breakthrough Films &
Television, the four-part series entitled "Uncovering the Battlefield" will
premiere in November for Remembrance Week.

About Breakthrough Films & Television:
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Toronto-based Breakthrough Films & Television is a producer of popular
documentary, drama, variety and lifestyle programming including the
documentary series, IN KOREA WITH NORM CHRISTIE; drama series, PARADISE FALLS;
as well as factual series, SHAYE and PLASTIC MAKES PERFECT. Over the past
21 years, executive producers Ira Levy and Peter Williamson have built a
creative partnership and established themselves as one of Canada's most
prolific providers of television programs, having produced over 550 half-hours
of programming over the last two years. On the web, the company is located at
www.breakthroughfilms.com.