Wilfred Ashton McClaughry | |
|---|---|
 Air Vice Marshal McClaughry formally hands over four Hawker Hurricane Mark IICs toNo. 94 Squadron RAF at El Gamil, Egypt. | |
| Birth name | Wilfred Ashton McCloughry |
| Born | (1894-11-26)26 November 1894 Adelaide, Australia |
| Died | 4 January 1943(1943-01-04) (aged 48) Cairo, Egypt |
| Allegiance | Australia (1913–16) United Kingdom (1916–43) |
| Service | Australian Imperial Force Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1913–1943 |
| Rank | Air Vice Marshal |
| Commands | AHQ 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 / wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches (3) |
| Relations | Edgar McCloughry (brother) |
Air Vice MarshalWilfred Ashton McClaughry,CB, DSO, MC, DFC (26 November 1894 – 4 January 1943), bornWilfred Ashton McCloughry,[1] was an Australian aviator and air commander who served in theAustralian Flying Corps during theFirst World War andRoyal Air Force in theSecond World War. His senior commands included:British Forces Aden (1930s), and;No. 9 Group RAF,[1] and Air Officer CommandingAir Officer Commanding Allied Headquarters Egypt (both during the Second World War). McClaughry was killed, while a passenger, in a flying accident inCairo in 1943.[2][3]
McClaughry was educated atQueen's College North Adelaide and theUniversity of Adelaide.[1] McClaughry joined theMilitia in 1913 and served in the First World War with the9th Light Horse Regiment, before transferring to theRoyal Flying Corps (RFC) in 1916. He was appointed Officer CommandingNo. 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 CommandingNo. 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 atRAF Heliopolis in 1934 and Station Commander atRAF Mersa Matruh in 1934 before becoming Air Officer CommandingBritish Forces Aden in 1936.[4] He became Director of Training at theAir Ministry in 1938.[4]
McClaughry served in the Second World War as Air Officer CommandingNo. 9 Group, a fighter group, during theBattle of Britain[1] and then as Air Officer Commanding AHQ Egypt before being killed in an air accident inCairo in 1943.[4]
In 1940 McClaughry married Angela Grace Maria Segalir.[1] His brother, Air Vice MarshalEdgar Kingston-McCloughry (who hyphenated his surname) also had a distinguished career in both the AFC and RAF.[1]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Air Officer CommandingBritish Forces Aden 1936–1938 | Succeeded by |
| Recreated Title last held by Harold Briggs in 1919 | Air Officer CommandingNo. 9 (Fighter) Group 1940–1942 | Succeeded by |
