august senior engineering officer royal_australian_air_force raaf australian exchange recipient highest civil decoration heroism united_kingdom commonwealth born adelaide worked mechanic enlisting raaf aircraft engine august following year attempted rescue pilot crashed aircraft flames airfield hamilton victoria scene rushed wreckage effort extract unconscious pilot pilot leg trapped struggling free wing tanks burst knocking unconscious pulled aircraft suffering severe burns spent month hospital subsequently awarded albert medal actions rescue attempt sufficiently recovered return work raaf second world war primarily involved engine repair engineering staff work australia commissioned flying officer saw service dutch new_guinea late received permanent commission raaf advanced squadron leader emergency served technical officer wing squadron based singapore appointed officer order british empire efforts post retired honorary rank group captain albert medal discontinued living recipients decoration invited exchange medal took offer formally recipient died age early life born eldest son wife mary née murphy young educated registered compulsory military training serving private november time gained employment automotive mechanic received job training place formal employed years took position purchased garage engineering workshop operated establishment years business conducting work types vehicle including cars trucks business ultimately experienced financial difficulties forced close ceremony june johnson couple later daughters sons military career light business closure forced seek alternate employment consequently enlisted royal_australian_air_force july ranked completed course qualified turner attached squadron victoria september employed maintenance role unit working rolls engines aircraft respectively completed time air gunner course child son named william born later year august aircraft squadron training flight landed air base hamilton victoria exercise coincided local agricultural planes briefly provided stationary display public journey aircraft taken second seen difficulties pilot pilot officer attempted climbing turn aircraft engine stalled sending machine dive passenger aircraft witnessed incident signalled pilot stop immediately plane ran airfield control second aircraft struck ground rapidly flames scene wreckage effort crew members able grab hold main fuel tank pulled free cockpit aircraft wing leg trapped wreckage despite continued efforts free burning hands pilot clothes point wing tanks burst rendering unconscious pulled aircraft suffering severe burns spent weeks hospital undergoing treatment observer gunner perished later owing injuries sustained impact survived rescue attempt successful rescue attempt unsuccessful president raaf court inquiry incident squadron leader noted conspicuous gallantry publicly commended actions efforts day ultimately recognised award albert medal announcement widely circulated media accompanying citation decoration published london gazette february reading february majesty king pleased award albert medal royal_australian_air_force conspicuous gallantry attempting rescue officer burning wreckage aircraft hamilton victoria 31st august despite fact aircraft nose rudder flames continued efforts rescue pulled away unconscious condition having received severe burns necessitated removal hospital award unique member raaf receive decoration award proved bestowed living australian subsequent presentations medal posthumous second world war presented acting governor general australia 5th baron ceremony melbourne recovered sufficiently injuries return duties raaf september attached period months time promoted leading returning service squadron formally transferred august advanced corporal september year outbreak second world war received rapid series promotions following eighteen months sergeant april flight sergeant march finally warrant officer february primarily engine repair engineering staff work australia conflict making sergeant non commissioned officer charge overhaul test work engine duties expanded march promotion include overhaul inspection testing rolls aircraft engines august posted melbourne capacity advised equipment spare parts raaf aircraft tasked compiling register equipment raaf flight training units operational bases australia entailed visiting air_force units victoria new south wales queensland check equipment stores march commissioned flying officer transferred july officer commanding technical photographic served liaison promoted temporary flight lieutenant august sent november specialist officer american gas turbine jet engines following november dispatched dutch new_guinea issues experienced engines operations aircraft 1st tactical air force returned australia position december saw remainder war post decided wanted remain air_force cessation hostilities subsequently sought permanent commission post war raaf having continued short service commission meantime application ultimately approved september granted substantive rank flight lieutenant younger brother saw service raaf second world war enlisted late rose rank warrant officer discharge final posting communication unit post war senior engineering officer involved investigation series engine failures experienced raaf aircraft inquiry led visit operational transport units australia attempt determine issues result maintenance components returned duties investigation conclusion squadron leader march attended land air warfare course following year posted singapore june technical officer based composite wing formed specifically service attachment proved short lived disbandment wing december point transferred squadron operating returned australia august appointment staff melbourne possessed complete administrative control matters pertaining aircraft engines post including acquisition repairs modifications financial expenditure completed course industrial later undertaking unit industrial electronics january promotion wing commander transferred held policy position responsible aircraft served years post october function test aircraft local overseas manufacturers evaluating suitable acquisition raaf role focused supervision maintenance test aircraft completing modifications fitting specialised equipment introduction service fighter coincided time post set retire raaf reaching age limit rank appointment extended years owing shortage technical officers service appointed officer order british empire new year honours list recommendation honour credited enhancing safety record commended constant efforts adoption actions ensure diverse variety aircraft unit retired raaf december recognition years service granted honorary rank group captain later life retired home victoria golf owing decline status significance albert medal announced living recipients decoration invited exchange medals henceforth formally recipients award living australian recipients time opted accept offer travelling london receive awards men presented ceremony buckingham palace queen elizabeth_ii july aged died august anniversary rescue attempt remembered pleasant survived wife seven children sons served australian_army vietnam war completing tours corporal lieutenant 4th 5th battalions decorated rescuing men wounded personally clearing caves defended despite sustaining wound rose rank lieutenant colonel commanded mid-1980s death
William McAloney