Wilfred McClaughry

Wilfred McClaughry
Air Vice Marshal W A McClaughry, formally hands over to No. 94 Squadron RAF, four Hawker Hurricane Mark IICs presented by Lady Rachel MacRobert, three of which were named after her sons, who all were killed flying in RAF service. AVM McClaughry shakes hands with Pilot Officer A Walker, in front of HL735 "The MacRobert Fighter - Sir Roderic" at El Gamil, Egypt.
Born	26 November 1894 Adelaide, Australia
Died	4 January 1943
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1913-1943
Rank	Air Marshal
Commands held	No. 4 Squadron AFC Air Pilotage School No. 8 Squadron RAF Heliopolis RAF Mersa Matruh British Forces Aden No. 9 (Fighter) Group AHQ Egypt
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross
Relations	Edgar McCloughry (brother)

Air Vice-Marshal Wilfred Ashton McClaughry CB DSO MC DFC (26 November 1894 – 4 January 1943) was an Australian aviator and air commander who served in the Australian Flying Corps (during World War I) and Royal Air Force (World War II). 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 World War II). McClaughry was killed, while a passenger, in a flying accident in Cairo in 1943.^[2][3]

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 World War I with the 9th Light Horse Regiment, before transferring to the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) in 1916. He was appointed Officer Commanding No. 4 Squadron AFC (known in British circles as "71 Squadron").

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.

He served in World War II 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 EJ Kingston-McCloughry (who hyphenated his surname and changed its spelling) also had a distinguished career in both the AFC and RAF.^[1]

References