In my research of RAAF deaths, I am just adding in the database those "Australians" who joined and died in the RAF with country listed as UK. Brothers, both Australian, Both Air Vice Marshall in the RAF! I came across this interesting fellow and his brother who had an interesting beginning in the AFC. McClaughry or McCloughry - The Aerodrome Forum Air Vice Marshal WILFRED ASHTON McCLAUGHRY C B, D S O, M C, D F C Royal Air Force who died age 48 on 04 January 1943 Son of James and Charlotte R. McClaughry, of Adelaide, South Australia; husband of Angela G. M. McClaughry, of St. John's Wood, London. Remembered with honour HELIOPOLIS WAR CEMETERY
McCloughry, Wilfred Ashton (1894 - 1943) Biographical Entry - Australian Dictionary of Biography Online McCLOUGHRY, WILFRED ASHTON (1894-1943) and EDGAR JAMES (1896-1972), airmen, were the first and second sons of James Kingston McCloughry, draper, from Larne, Northern Ireland, and his Australian-born wife Charlotte Rebecca, née Ashton. Wilfred was born on 26 November 1894 at Knightsbridge, Adelaide, and Edgar on 10 September 1896 at Hindmarsh. Wilfred later changed his surname to McClaughry and Edgar became Kingston-McCloughry. Wilfred was educated at Queen's School, North Adelaide, University of Adelaide and the Adelaide School of Mines. Commissioned into the Australian Military Forces in 1913, he transferred to the Australian Imperial Force in 1914 and went overseas with the 9th Light Horse Regiment. On Gallipoli from May to August 1915 he was wounded twice. Seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in March 1916, after flying training he served in a home defence squadron operating against German airships. He joined No.100 Squadron, the R.F.C.'s first night bomber unit, on its formation and in March 1917 accompanied it to France as a flight commander. He was awarded the Military Cross in July. One of the experienced Australians in the R.F.C. selected to strengthen the expanding Australian Flying Corps, Wilfred joined the Second Squadron and accompanied it to France as a flight commander in September 1917. In October he was recalled to England to command the Fourth Squadron and took that overseas in December. Quiet but firm, he led one of the most efficient Sopwith Camel squadrons on the Western Front in 1918. He flew frequent daylight missions and undertook several risky night sorties against enemy heavy bombers in Camels not equipped for night flying. Credited with three victories, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Service Order and was mentioned in dispatches three times. On General Birdwood's recommendation Wilfred obtained a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force in August 1919 as squadron leader. In 1922 he attended the first R.A.F. Staff College course and graduated from the Imperial Defence College in 1931. Promoted group captain in July 1934, he was posted to Egypt and in July 1936, as acting air commodore, he was appointed air officer commanding Aden Command. On 27 April 1940 he married Angela Grace Maria Segalir; this was his second marriage, the first having been dissolved. During the battle of Britain Wilfred commanded No.9 Fighter Group and in 1942, appointed C.B. and air vice marshal, became Air Officer Commanding, Egypt. On 4 January 1943 he died in an aircraft crash near Heliopolis and was buried in Cairo war cemetery. Electric chimes in the Congregational Church, Brougham Place, Adelaide, were later dedicated to his memory and his portrait by Cuthbert Orde is in his widow's possession. Select Bibliography E. J. Richards, Australian Airmen. History of the 4th Squadron, A.F.C. (Melb, nd); F. M. Cutlack, The Australian Flying Corps: In the Western and Eastern Theatres of War, 1914-1918 (Syd, 1923); I. Jones, Tiger Squadron (Lond, 1954); A. Morris, Bloody April (Lond, 1967); K. Isaacs, Military Aircraft of Australia 1909-1918 (Canb, 1971); S. Zuckerman, From Apes to Warlords (Lond, 1978); A. H. Cobby, High Adventure (Melb, 1981); written records section 1914-18 (Australian War Memorial); Air History Branch papers (National Archives of the United Kingdom); Kingston-McCloughry papers (Imperial War Museum, London); family papers (privately held). More on the resources Author: Alan Fraser
King's College London Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives Survey of the Papers of Senior UK Defence Personnel, 1900-1975 Name MCCLAUGHRY, Wilfred Ashton (1894-1943), Air Vice Marshal Service biography World War I 1914-1918; service with 9 Australian Light Horse Regt 1914-1915; Gallipoli 1915; seconded to Royal Flying Corps; Commander, No 4 Australian Sqn 1918; Air Officer Commanding British Forces, Aden 1936-1938; Director of Training, Air Ministry 1938-1940; Commander, No 9 Fighter Group 1940-1942; Air Officer Commanding, Army Headquarters Egypt 1942-1943
McCLAUGHRY, Captain Edgar James DFC; No 4 Sqn AFC, London Gazette 3 December 1918. A bold and fearless officer, who has performed many gallant deeds of daring, notably on 24 Sept., when, attacking a train at 250 feet altitude, he obtained a direct hit, cutting it in two, the rear portion being derailed. He then fired a number of rounds at the fore portion, which pulled up. Sighting a hostile two-seater he engaged it and drove it down. Proceeding home he observed seven Fokker biplanes; although he had expended the greater part of his ammunition, Capt. McClaughry never hesitated, but engaged the leader. During the combat that ensued he was severely wounded by fire from a scout that attacked him from behind; turning he drove this machine off badly damaged. His ammunition now being expended he endeavoured to drive off two hostile scouts by firing Very lights at them. Exhausted by his exertions, he temporarily lost consciousness, but recovered sufficiently to land his machine safely. This officer has destroyed 14 machines and four balloons, and has repeatedly displayed an utter disregard for danger in attacking ground targets. AND HIS BROTHER McCLOUGHRY, Major Wilfred Ashton MC DFC; No 4 Sqn AFC, London Gazette 8 February 1919. The record of this officer's squadron, when equipped with Sopwith Camels, was unique, not only in the number of aircraft destroyed with almost insignificant loss to ourselves, but also in the persistence with which they carried out innumerable raids at the lowest altitude. The high morale and individual enterprise of the members of this squadron must be largely attributed to the personality and influence of their leader, Major McCloughry. When the squadron was re-armed with Sopwith Snipes the change in type necessitated a complete reversal of their aerial experience. By his careful and untiring leadership he succeeded in so training his squadron that in a series of raids on three successive days they accounted for upwards of 30 hostile aeroplanes.
