MCGINNESS, Paul Joseph
| Service Numbers: | 324, 251538 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 September 1914, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Squadron Leader |
| Last Unit: | 1 Personnel Depot RAAF (Melbourne) |
| Born: | Mortlake, Victoria, Australia, 4 February 1896 |
| Home Town: | Framlingham, Moyne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | St Patrick's College, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Natural causes , Perth, Western Australia, 15 January 1952, aged 55 years |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia Roman Catholic LA 0342 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 324, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Feb 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 324, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of Victoria embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Feb 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 324, 8th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Star of Victoria, Melbourne | |
| 16 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 324, 8th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 24 Sep 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 8th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 3 Oct 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 8th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 21 Oct 1917: | Promoted Second Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) | |
| 21 Jan 1918: | Promoted Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) | |
| 9 Aug 1919: | Discharged Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
World War 2 Service
| 1 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 251538 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec 1943: | Promoted Royal Air Force , Squadron Leader | |
| 29 Jan 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 251538, 1 Personnel Depot RAAF (Melbourne) |
Help us honour Paul Joseph McGinness's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Distinguished Conduct Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry. He did good scouting work, and showed great powers of leadership during operations.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 129
Date: 21 September 1916
Distinguished Flying Cross
'A bold and gallant airman, who has displayed marked initiative and skill in attacking and destroying enemy aircraft, notably on 24th August, when, with his observer, he crashed two enemy machines in an engagement against heavy odds. He has also carried out successful attacks on enemy aerodromes, inflicting heavy casualties and causing serious damage.
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61
Date: 23 May 1919
Biography
Co-founder of QANTAS
"Paul Joseph McGinness was identified by peers Sir Hudson Fysh and Sir Fergus McMaster as providing the first spark of the idea which led to the establishment of Qantas. He was born at Mortlake near Warnambool, Victoria, on 4 February 1896 and grew up on the family property ‘Riverview’ at Framlingham.
A month after World War I started in August 1914, McGinness enlisted in the 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment and was in Egypt by April 1915. A month later, he was in the second wave of Australians landing on Gallipoli and over the next seven months was wounded three times. He was one of the few survivors of the 150 men who charged Walkers Ridge at The Nek in August. Promoted to Sergeant, McGinness later won the Distinguished Conduct Medal for scouting during operations at a Turkish outpost in the Sinai called Jifjaffa in April 1916.
He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps to train as a pilot in August 1917 and joined No. 1 Squadron as a Lieutenant in March 1918 flying Bristol fighters. Prior to this he had served briefly with a Royal Flying Corps unit attached to Lawrence of Arabia’s forces. After taking leave with an observer named Hudson Fysh, the pair often flew together. McGinness was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in August 1918 and finished the war as an ace with seven victories." - READ MORE LINK (www.aahof.com.au)
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