 Complete the following phrase:  On 26 October MacLachlan was promoted to flying officer, and undertook an attack mission. During the course of the flight his wingtip made contact with the ground but he was able to return to base. The squadron settled down into winter quarters until March when they were reassigned to the French border region with Spain. On 1 April he celebrated his 21st birthday and took the opportunity of driving from Perpig across the frontier into the Pyrenees to celebrate it. On 9 April the squadron was put on alert when the Germans 