| Robert Garth Loughrin was born on 25th July 1923 and was the son of Joseph Geddes Loughrin and Maud Evelyn Loughrin (nee Sharpe), of Mackney Road, Cookstown.
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| Prior to the war Robert Garth Loughrin was an engineer.
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| He joined the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve as a flight engineer. He was attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
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| On 29th February 1944 during a training exercise on (Serial No JD386) in a Halifax II bomber, the aircraft did a spiral dive to 800 feet. The pilot tried to recover the aircraft from the dive and lost control. The aircraft crashed at Bridge Farm near Broughton, between Brigg and Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire at 18:20 and caught fire.
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| It is thought that the aircraft developed rudder stall and the pilot was unable to gain control.
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| All eight crew members were killed. The full crew were as follows:-
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1796421 Sgt. R.T.G. LOUGHRIN – Flight Engineer
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J.19620 P/O J. SIGURDSON – Pilot
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J.26289 F/O G.L. MUSKETT – Navigator
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J.28076 F/O J.B. EATON – Air Bomber
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R.96219 W/O J.M. HEALY – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner
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R.124095 Sgt. P. ZAYETS – Air Gunner
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R.192018 Sgt. F.E. WILT – Air Gunner
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1813155 Sgt Philip Leslie Emms – Air Gunner
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 11th March 1944: Roll of Honour
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| LOUGHRIN – March 1944, Sergeant R T (Garth) Loughrin, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force, eldest son of Mr J G Loughrin, Mackney, Cookstown. Interred in R.A.F. Regional Cemetery, Harrogate, Yorkshire. Deeply regretted by his sorrowing father, mother, brothers and sisters. ‘Per ardua ad astra atque ultra’ (through adversity to the stars and beyond).
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| Mr and Mrs J G Loughrin and family desire to return their sincere thanks to all those who sympathised with them in their sad bereavement, especially those who called at the home, and members of various organisations and friends for letters of condolence; also the W.V.S. and past and present pupils of Orritor School for the beautiful wreath they sent (per Mrs Crooks of Orritor). Mackney, Cookstown.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 11th March 1944: Cookstown R.A.F. Sergeant Killed
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| The parents of a young Royal air Force sergeant, who was home on leave only at Christmas last, having received news of his death on active service. He was Sergeant R T Garth Loughrin, a flight engineer, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Loughrin, of Mackney, Cookstown. Sergeant Loughrin, who was only 20 years old, joined the Royal Air force in April last, and just before Christmas received his sergeant’s stripes. He was educated at Cookstown High School and went to Belfast two years ago to serve his apprenticeship as an electrician with Messrs Greaves Ltd, Falls Road. He had been interred in the R.A.F. Regional Cemetery at Harrogate.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 11th March 1944: Orange News
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| At a meeting of Orritor ‘Invincible Purple Heroes’ L.O.L No. 625 on Friday evening, Bro William H Black, W.M. of L.O.L. 199 presiding, the W.M. said he had a mournful duty to perform in asking the members to pass a vote of condolence with Bro Joseph Loughrin on the tragic death, in the service of his country, of his eldest son. It was young men like him who, by their heroic sacrifice, enabled us to meet in peace and harmony. The vote of sympathy was passed, all members standing in silence.
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| Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Robert Garth Loughrin is buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery in Yorkshire.
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| Sergeant Loughrin is commemorated locally on Cookstown Cenotaph and on Orritor Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour, Cookstown.
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| Sergeant Loughrin is also commemorated on the family headstone in Cookstown Cemetery.
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| The CWGC record Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Robert Garth Loughrin as the son of Joseph G Loughrin and Maude E Loughrin of Cookstown, County Tyrone.
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