Code: U27708
Royal Australian Air Force officer's four-pocket service dress tunic in distinctive dark blue cloth with black cotton lining. Manufactured by 'M. TX' - Clothing Factory, South Melbourne, it features black plastic buttons and belt buckle and blackened bronze sleeve/cuff eagles/crowns. It is fitted with Flight Lieutenant rank lace and a lovely flat RAAF pilot wing. Comes with matching button fly trousers, also manufactured by 'M. TX'. Both tunic and trousers have some small moth nips/holes and snagged/frayed areas but the overall appearance is good and it displays very well. The trousers are named to F/O McLaughlin. Originally sourced from Australia this uniform belonged to Ian David McLaughlin (417093), born 3rd December 1923 at Annerley, Queensland. He was educated at Pulteney Grammar School, enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 6th December 1941, entered No.1 EFTS Parafield in April 1942 and No.7 SFTS Denilquin in August. He was posted to 84 Squadron, Cairns, on 8th February 1944 and then to No1 Reserve Personnel Pool on 3rd June with a move to Port Moresby, New Guinea, on 12th June. He was posted to 75 (Kittyhawk) Fighter Squadron at Biak on 25th June and operations in New Guinea. On 14th September 1944 McLaughlin crash landed his Kittyhawk without injury while attempting to take off from Kamiri airfield. On 24th October his aircraft was hit by enemy fire while strafing enemy anti aircraft guns at Utaron but he landed safely at Kamari. In December he was posted to Morotai, Borneo, and in January 1945 to No.4 Personnel Depot at Adelaide. In May he was with the Air Force Reasearch Unit followed by No.2 OTU (as Staff) and discharged in April 1946. McLaughlin was mentioned in dispatches for services rendered in the First Tactical Air Force and awarded the 39-45 and Pacific stars, War and Australian Service medals. The uniform comes with basic research and some photocopied images. Stock code U27708.
