RAAF winter service dress tunic : Flying Officer P L McCartin, 75 (NZ) Squadron, RAF

RAAF blue officer's winter service dress tunic with a pair of pleated breast patch pockets and a pair of expanding patch waist pockets. The pockets have flaps secured by black plastic RAAF buttons, those on the breast having three pointed flaps, while those at the waist are square. A small inset pocket is located above the right waist pocket. The tunic has an internal pocket over the left breast. A white cotton label sewn inside this pocket reads 'CARR, SON & WOOR LTD 9, SAVILE ROW, LONDON. W.1.' and is marked in black ink 'NOV 1944 F/O. P.L. McCARTIN, RAAF'. Above the left breast pocket is a pair of blue and white embroidered RAAF pilot's wings. The rank insignia of a Flying Officer (single narrow ring) is worn on each lower sleeve, along with an oxidised brass eagle and crown. The tunic is fastened by four large plastic RAAF buttons, and belted at the waist. The self fabric belt is buttoned to the rear of the tunic with small leather loops and has a blackened steel buckle with two metal claws.

419328 Flying Officer Patrick Leo McCartin was born in Geelong, Victoria in December 1915. He was named after his uncle Lieutenant Leo McCartin, MC, who was killed in action on the Western Front in 1918. He enlisted in the RAAF as a Leading Aircraftman on 18 July 1942 and began training on DH-82, Link Trainers and Anson aircraft in Australia and England from December 1942 to November 1943. In April 1944, with the rank of Flight Sergeant, McCartin began training on Wellington and Stirling bombers and then, after a promotion to Flying Officer, began flying Lancasters with 75 (NZ) Squadron, RAF in August 1944. He flew numerous operations over occupied Europe and was listed missing, later confirmed killed, on an operation over Homberg on 20 November 1944, flying Lancaster III, JN-V. He is buried at Reichswald Forest war cemetery at Kleve, Germany.