General Service Medal (1918-1962) : Group Captain D C Hurst, RAAF

General Service Medal 1918-1962 (ER II) with clasp 'MALAYA'. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Douglas Charles Hurst was born in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1923. In May 1942, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force, and in July 1943 graduated as a sergeant pilot from Number 33 Course, 5 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at Uranquinty, NSW. He was posted to 80 Squadron RAAF, where he flew Kittyhawks on fighter-bomber operations from bases in New Guinea and the islands. By the end of the war, he had been commissioned as a pilot officer. Hurst elected to remain in the RAAF post war, and in 1947 volunteered to be part of the aerial component of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in Japan. He served with 82 Squadron, based at Bofu, and equipped with Mustangs, until late 1948, when he returned to Australia. After conversion to jets, he flew Meteors as a flight lieutenant with 77 Squadron in Korea during 1952, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and US Air Medal for his gallantry in ground attack operations. He later served on staff duties in Malaya, commanded 76 Squadron flying CAC Sabres, and was Australian Air Attache in Washington from 1964 to 1966. Doug Hurst retired from the RAAF in 1970 with the rank of group captain.