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402113. F/O John Aitcheson MAGUIRE. (D.F.C.)
PARENTS: Mr. & Mrs. P.J. Maguire of Milton.
WIFE: Mrs. P.M. Maguire of Mataura. (Married on

John Maguire was born at Alexandra on 1st July, 1920. He was educated at Tokomario High School where he played the usual sports. After leaving school, he worked on various farming jobs until October 1938 when he was employed by Mr. B. Ritchie, Waipiata as a farm manager.

He applied for aircrew training in September, 1939, was accepted and entered camp at Levin in July 1940. He was trained at Ohakea as an Air Gunner until in November he left for the United Kingdom. There he was posted as Sergeant Air Gunner to No. 151 Squadron and was on Defiant night fighters for two months, his pilot being Sgt. Atkenson. From March 1941 he took part in the Battle of Britain on various night flying patrols and other general flying duties, until in November he was posted to a gunnery school for special training on Hampden aircraft. He was then posted back to his former squadron.

In January 1942 he was commissioned as Pilot Officer and in May converted to Wellington and Whitley bombers. For the following three months he took part in various patrols as Air Gunner. On September 20th he was injured when a Whitby crashed on landing, but he quickly recovered and in October was promoted to F/O. In December he joined No. 161 Squadron where he was Air Gunner on Halifax aircraft captained by F/L Prior. For the next six months their plane was engaged on Patrols making flights to Malta and Gibralter. In June 1943 he was awarded the D.F.C., the citation stating -

"F/O Maguire has completed many operational sorties. He is a keen and enthusiastic gunner, always displaying a high standard of devotion to duty."

In July he went to No. 24 O.T.U. at Honneybrookes as a Gunnery leader.