Air Crew Europe Star : Flight Lieutenant P V Maher, Royal Australian Air Force

Place Europe: United Kingdom
Accession Number REL34525.002
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Medal
Physical description Bronze
Maker Unknown
Place made United Kingdom
Date made c 1946
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Air Crew Europe Star. Unnamed as issued.

History / Summary

Associated with the service of 404385 Flight Lieutenant Patrick Vincent Maher. Maher was born on 23 October 1918 in Murwillumbah, NSW and was an auctioneer's assistant on enlistment in the RAAF on 16 August 1940. He had previously served in the 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment from April 1939. On enlistment Maher was posted to 2 Initial Training School, Bradfield Park with the rank of aircraftman. On 17 October, Maher was promoted to leading aircraftman and transferred to 6 Elementary Flying Training School, Tamworth. On 16 December Maher was posted to 3 Service Flying Training School, Amberley, where he was awarded his Flying Badge and promoted to temporary sergeant on 6 April 1941. The next day he transferred to 2 Embarkation Depot, Bradfield Park in preparation for overseas service.

Maher was discharged from the RAAF and attached to the RAF on 27 May, the same day he sailed for the United Kingdom. He arrived in Belfast, Ireland, on 30 August and was attached to 3 Personnel Reception Centre for a week, before transferring to 57 Operational Training Unit, Hawarden. There, Maher trained as a fighter pilot on Spitfires and Miles Masters. He was promoted temporary flight sergeant on 7 October, and posted to 66 Squadron (Sqn), RAF on 21 October. 66 Sqn carried out offensive operations over France at this time, from a number of bases in the south-west and south-east of England. On 7 December, Maher was temporarily attached to RAF Portreath, a Remote Radar Head operating out of Cornwall, used as a ferry stop-over for aircraft bound to and from North Africa and the Middle East. He rejoined 66 Squadron on 1 January 1942.

On 3 February Maher was transferred to 5 Personnel Dispersal Centre, Pandgate before being posted to the RAF Aircraft Depot, India. He was taken on strength by 146 Sqn on 12 May, flying Hawker Hurricanes. This unit was initially based in Calcutta but moved to Bengal to provide fighter cover for the area until January 1943, when it began attack operations over Burma using advanced bases, where necessary. Maher was promoted to pilot officer (RAAF) on 12 February 1943 and transferred to 166 Tactical Fighter Wing, Chittagong on 12 April. He undertook training at the 8th Jungle Warfare School, Sevoke on 29 July before being taken on strength by 60 Sqn on 3 August.

Maher was promoted to flying officer on 12 August, and again flew Hurricanes in ground attacks and escort duties, this time flying in support of the British 14th Army until 12 May 1944, when he was posted to Headquarters, Air Command, South East Asia. From 1 August Maher was attached to 151 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit, India as a flying instructor. He remained with that unit until 20 December when he began to prepare for his return to Australia.

Maher embarked for Australia on 4 January 1945 arriving at 1 Personnel Depot on 17 January. He had been promoted to flight lieutenant during the voyage and was posted to 3 Personnel Depot on 13 February. Maher transferred to 2 Operational Training Unit on 8 March where he commenced two operational flying courses and a high altitude flying course. He was then posted to 86 Sqn, Bohle River, Queensland, on 30 June and carried out army co-operation exercises, bombing and strafing practice and general flying training. After the war ended, Maher was posted to 2 Personnel Depot and 3 Personnel Depot respectively, before he was discharged on 16 October 1945 at Base 136, Murwillumbah.