Rondedzera kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Inorondedzerwa nemunyori wenhau dzakaitika Alan Stephens se "acerbic asi anokwanisa", McLachlan akatungamirira No. 3 Squadron kuburikidza neHondo yeSidi Barrani muna December 1940, yakateverwa neHondo yeBardia
uye kubatwa kweTobruk muna January 1941. Asati atendeukira kuHawker Hurricanes mwedzi iwoyo, chikwata chakanzi chakaparadza ndege gumi nembiri dzeItaly nekurasikirwa neGladiator shanu nevatyairi vaviri; McLachlan akapfura pasi Fiat CR.42 musi wa10 Zvita 1940, chiito chimwe chete icho nhengo yechikwata uye ramangwana ace Gordon Steege akataura "kuuraya" kwake kwekutanga. Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Middle East, Air Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, akarumbidza McLachlan nechikwata chake nokuda kwe"mudzimu wavo wakakwirira uye kukwanisa kuchinja mumamiriro ezvinhu erenje".