Wilfred McClaughry

Air Vice Marshal Wilfred Ashton McClaughry, CB, DSO, MC, DFC (26 November 1894 – 4 January 1943), born Wilfred Ashton McCloughry,[1] was an Australian aviator and air commander who served in the Australian Flying Corps during the First World War and Royal Air Force in the Second World War. His senior commands included: British Forces Aden (1930s), and; No. 9 Group RAF,[1] and Air Officer Commanding Air Officer Commanding Allied Headquarters Egypt (both during the Second World War). McClaughry was killed, while a passenger, in a flying accident in Cairo in 1943.[2][3]

Wilfred Ashton McClaughry
Air Vice Marshal McClaughry formally hands over four Hawker Hurricane Mark IICs to No. 94 Squadron RAF at El Gamil, Egypt.
Birth nameWilfred Ashton McCloughry
Born(1894-11-26)26 November 1894
Adelaide, Australia
Died4 January 1943(1943-01-04) (aged 48)
Cairo, Egypt
AllegianceAustralia (1913–16)
United Kingdom (1916–43)
Service/branchAustralian Imperial Force
Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force
Years of service1913–43
RankAir Vice Marshal
Commands heldAHQ Egypt (1942–43)
No. 9 (Fighter) Group (1940–42)
British Forces Aden (1936–38)
RAF Mersa Matruh (1935–36)
RAF Heliopolis (1934–35)
No. 8 Squadron RAF (1924–28)
No. 8 (Training) Squadron AFC (1918–19)
No. 4 Squadron AFC (1917–18)
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (3)
RelationsEdgar McCloughry (brother)

Military career

McClaughry was educated at Queen's College North Adelaide and the University of Adelaide.[1] McClaughry joined the Militia in 1913 and served in the First World War with the 9th Light Horse Regiment, before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in 1916. He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 4 Squadron AFC (known in British circles as "71 Squadron") in October 2017.[4]

After the war he joined the Royal Air Force and became Officer Commanding the Air Pilotage School in 1921.[4] He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 8 Squadron in 1924 and then spent three years as a staff officer at Headquarters Wessex Bombing Area.[4] McClaughry went on to be Station Commander at RAF Heliopolis in 1934 and Station Commander at RAF Mersa Matruh in 1934 before becoming Air Officer Commanding British Forces Aden in 1936.[4] He became Director of Training at the Air Ministry in 1938.[4]

McClaughry served in the Second World War as Air Officer Commanding No. 9 Group, a fighter group, during the Battle of Britain[1] and then as Air Officer Commanding AHQ Egypt before being killed in an air accident in Cairo in 1943.[4]

Family

In 1940 he married Angela Grace Maria Segalir.[1] His brother, Air Vice Marshal Edgar Kingston-McCloughry (who hyphenated his surname) also had a distinguished career in both the AFC and RAF.[1]

References
  1. Australian Dictionary of Biography
  2. Record for Lodestar EW986 on lostaircraft.com
  3. Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  4. Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Vice-Marshal W A McClaughry
Military offices
Preceded by
Leslie Gossage		 Air Officer Commanding British Forces Aden
1936–1938		 Succeeded by
George Reid
Recreated
Title last held by
Harold Briggs in 1919		 Air Officer Commanding No. 9 (Fighter) Group
1940–1942		 Succeeded by
Leonard Slatter
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