Distinguished Service Order

Awards Of The Distinguished Service Order To Members Of The Australian Flying Corps

COBBY, Captain Arthur Henry DFC; Australian Flying Corps; 4 Sqn AFC, London Gazette 2 November 1918, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 4 March 1919: On the 16th Aug. this officer led an organized raid on an enemy aerodrome. At 200 feet altitude he obtained direct hits with his bombs, and set on fire two hangars; he then opened fire on a machine which was standing out on the aerodrome. The machine caught fire. Afterwards he attacked with machine-gun fire parties of troops and mechanics, inflicting a number of casualties. On the following day he led another important raid on an aerodrome, setting fire to two hangars and effectively bombing gun detachments, anti-aircraft batteries, etc. The success of these two raids was largely due to the determined and skilful leadership of this officer.

KING, Captain Elwyn Roy DFC; Australian Flying Corps; 4 Sqn AFC, London Gazette 3 June 1919, 6 October 1919:

McCLOUGHRY, Captain Edgar James DFC; Australian Flying Corps; 4 Sqn AFC; London Gazette 8 February 1919, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 23 May 1919: 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.

McCLOUGHRY, Major Wilfred Ashton MC DFC; Australian Flying Corps; 4 Sqn AFC; London Gazette 8 February 1919, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 23 May 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.

PETRE, Captain Henry Aloysius; Australian Flying Corps; Mesopotamian Half Flight; London Gazette 22 December 1916, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 29 June 1917:

WILLIAMS, Captain Richard; Australian Flying Corps; 1 Sqn AFC; London Gazette 16 August 1917, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 20 December 1917: Flying at a low altitude under intense anti-aircraft fire, he attacked and dispersed enemy troops who were concentrating on our flank. On another occasion, whilst on reconnaissance, he landed in the enemy lines and rescued a pilot of a machine which had been brought down by hostile fire.