Ian MacLennan

Education

He studied engineering at Saskatchewan University. Following training, he graduated from training school in June 1941, arriving in England during that Summer.

Career

Early Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, with six siblings, Ian MacLennan was schooled in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan. MacLennan was enlisted into the Royal Canadian Air Force in October 1940. Malta

After service in Britain, flying sorties over France, in 1942 the Royal Air Force asked for desperately-needed volunteers (and their even more needed aircraft) to fight against Axis forces during the Siege of Malta.

On 9 June 1942, 32 pilots, MacLennan among them, headed towards Malta on-board the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle.

Roughly 1000 km (621 miles) from the island, the Spitfires were launched, attempting to fly through a hotbed of Axis aircraft and warships. After a four-hour flight, they landed, with little fuel left.

Whilst on the island, MacLennan became associated with Canadian fighter ace "Buzz" Beurling, the highest-scoring Canadian pilot of the, whom he highly regarded. Capture and escape

After the siege ended, MacLennan returned home for a period of rest.

Captured, he was sent to Stalag Luft III, where he subsequently escaped in 1945, as the war was drawing to a close.

In 1945 MacLennan returned to Canada, studying at Toronto university, where he was mentored by renowned Canadian architect Eric Arthur. A primary focus of his career in architecture was on producing affordable housing. His role took him to Venezuela, the United States and eventually back to his homeland of Canada.

In 1961, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, one of the youngest to be elected.Moshe Safdie, famed designer of Habitat 67 said of him:

Ian Maclennan is one of those men who make Canada tick.

Without him there would never have been a Habitat. MacLennan appeared in two television documentaries, chronicling the Siege of Malta and the role played by Canadian Air Aces during the War.

Death

Ian MacLennan"s wife of 67 years, London-born Nina Olive MacLennan (née Barry) who was "familiar with the Bible as with Shakespeare" died on 17 May 2013, aged 97.

Achievements

• He charges into meetings with the fervor of a college debating champion….he is aggressive, frank, and unlike many civil servants, very outspoken.

Views

Immediately, Malta-based pilots took-over the aircraft, defending against a Luftwaffe attack.