249472 F/O. Gerald Bede McCosker DFC.Royal Australian Air Force 466 Squadron from:Wydford, Welingrove via Glen Innes, NSW Gerald McCosker (Dad) was born in Inverell on 27th November 1916, initially living on the family farm. Later the family moved into the nearest town where he became a baker in his father's bakery.
Final education at De La Salle College at Armidale where he excelled at cricket, tennis and football, later representing Inverell District at Country Week Cricket Carnival in Sydney at age 21.
Bede first applied to join RAAF in 1940 but was rejected then accepted in April 1942, commencing training in April and first flying experience at Benalla in September. Advanced to: Wirraways in Feb 43, Oxfords in Sept 43, Wellingtons in Mar 44, Hallifax Mk. 2 in June 44 then to 466 Squadron at Driffield in Sugust 44.
His First Op. was on 16th of August 1944 to Kiel as 2nd pilot. Tour of Ops of 37 sorties (20 night and 17 day) was completed on 13th of March 1945 a total flying time 622 hours 10 minutes.
He met Marion Lily Holdridge who was serving with the ATS in the Royal Observer Corps from Derby and they were married on 4th of November 1944, Dad's brother Jack also with the RAAF was best man.
Dad left Liverpool on 29th of May 1945 on the Arundel Castle and was discharged on 5th of September 1945.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with the following citation "Flying Officer McCosker has completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty"
Mum arrived in Australia, along with about fifty other war brides, on New Year's Day 1946 and they moved to a War Service Land Settlement property until 1961. The family then moved to Inverell where Dad commenced employment with the Dept of Agriculture, retiring after twenty years in 1981.
During this time he was awarded the National Medal for service with SES, was President of Inverell Legacy for many years and later spent many years volunteering at St. Vincent de Paulle.
Mum passed away in 1990 and Dad in 1998. They are survived by four sons and three daughters.
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