Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 3700    Session 12 (11.30am Thursday 26 March)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $750
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GROUP OF FIVE: 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. The first two medals unnamed, 414949 B.M. McLoughlin on last three medals. All named medals impressed. Court mounted for wearing, contact marks on some medals, otherwise very fine.

Entitled to Burma Star. Bernard stated that he was on the draft to fly via Burma but was pulled off the plane at the last minute so when the Burma Star was issued to him he returned it. Irrespective of this, his RAAF Officer's Certificate of Service No.18512 dated 2nd April 1946 shows an entitlement to the 1939-45 Star, Burma Star and Italy Star.

Bernard Michael McLoughlin, clerk, born 22Jul1922 at Sandgate, Queensland; Enl.06Dec1941 in RAAF and 3rd Recruit Centre, Brisbane; after training in Australia Emb.29Jul1942 for Canada and EATS; to Sgt 9Dec1942; to Pilot Officer 30Dec1942; 03Apr1943 to England and then Ireland; to Flying Officer 30Jun1943; to 303rd Fighter Training Unit 29Jul1943; to North Africa 24Aug1943, 22nd Depot 01Sep1943, RAF Shallufa 27Sep1943, HQs North African Air Force 23Nov1943, RAAF 458Sqn 30Dec1943 as Pilot on Wellington aircraft in Coastal Command involved in bombing, mining and anti-submarine ops in the Mediterranean, North Africa and Italy, HQ Middle East Command 26Jan1945; RTA 14Oct1945; Disemb.04Nov1945 at Sydney; Disch.21Dec1945 on demobilization.

Bernard's brother, Sgt Cormack Terence McLoughlin, was also in 458Sqn. He was killed in a plane crash in Egypt on 02Aug1942 when an American aircraft landed on top of his aircraft as he was taking off. He is buried in the Tel El Kebir War Memorial Cemetery.

Bernard McLoughlin was educated at Marist Brothers College at Rosalie in Brisbane. He worked as a clerk with the Queensland Public Curator from 1938 to 1941 at which time he joined RAAF for war service. Post war he returned to his former employment and continued his university studies. In 1950 he was appointed to the staff of the Queensland Agent General in London, continuing his studies as an external student and after graduating was called to the Bar in 1950. He commenced private practice at the Bar in Queensland in 1951 specialising in insurance law. He was appointed Judge of the District Court of Queensland on 01Jan1968. He retired on 23Sep1987 and died on 10Jan2007.

Together with several photos including some of aircraft, 458Sqn group photos that include Bernard McLoughlin, copies of service records, full copy of Bernard's Flying Log Book, various other research and extracts from relevant books.