James Atterby McCairns, DFC & Two Bars, MM (21 September 1919 – 13 June 1948) was an English pilot with the Royal Air Force. He flew the Supermarine Spitfire fighter before becoming a prisoner of war, escaping and returning to England. He returned to active service as a "special duties" pilot working with Special Operations Executive, carrying agents to and from occupied France, before returning to combat in 1945 as a successful fighter pilot. He was decorated for gallantry five times and was killed in an air crash in 1948.