october march pilot royal_australian_air_force raaf gained national recognition wing commander men australia air years later command group captain piloted international flight undertaken raaf plane crew feat earned awarded raaf member born raised england served royal_air_force world war joining raaf left air_force instructor south australian branch australian died plane crash following year early career born october son captain joined saw action world war flight sub lieutenant transferred royal_air_force raf creation independent service lieutenant awarded new year honours granted short service commission raf flying officer december joined royal_australian_air_force raaf november year piloted survey flight melbourne sydney carried similar mission melbourne february july tasked chief air staff squadron approached melbourne flag waving visit succeeded despite poor weather according official history inter war raaf enormous element luck mention risk pioneering flights australia wing commander later air vice marshal veteran men australia air lead pilot chief air staff time acted commander navigator pair took victoria april single engined flew eastern coast queensland crossed gulf darwin continued western australian south australian coasts way faced adverse weather fatigue illness deal engine problems fuel leaks returned victoria covering miles days flew raaf aircraft took escort landing place crowd people waiting welcome prime minister called journey wonderful accomplishments history aviation government presented gift mission commander received awarded duo annual trophy appointed awarded gold medal promoted flight lieutenant effective march year flight selected lead pilot pioneering australian flight command chief air staff later air marshal sir study potential theatre operations company flight sergeant les took september mile round trip fuselage bore words royal_australian_air_force aircraft like australia flight difficulties approaching queensland september lost power land ocean making repairs twice thrown clear aircraft beach heavy surf expedition returned december plane raaf escort man honour guard subsequently described partly matter prestige owing rumours countries planning journey reaction williams expedition led williams rival time leadership young air_force international flight undertaken raaf plane crew awarded second gold medal bar flight marked occasion awarded member raaf received williams appointed death legacy left raaf november flying instructor newly formed south australian section australian club died adelaide hospital march injuries received previous day crashed club trainer giving display said sterling work air force known doubtful majority people australia true appreciation greatness man magnitude difficulties tasks performed honoured issue postage stamp series depicting australian included sir keith sir
Ivor McIntyre