Defence Medal : Flying Officer P L McCartin, 75 (NZ) Squadron, RAF

Defence Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

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.