arthur december december fighter ace senior officer royal_australian_air_force raaf world war commonly known wolf officially credited aerial victories commander led combat formations squadron wing level youngest group captain history raaf arthur joined air_force day australia declared war september saw action squadron north_africa awarded shooting aircraft single sortie posted commanded squadron later nos wings earned continuing lead attack formation japanese bombers discovering guns twice mentioned despatches arthur played leading gave mutiny april pursuing interests australia vietnam following discharge air_force war died age education early career son stock inspector veteran world war served overseas duration conflict mother welsh descent born sydney december grew father home town near new_south_wales border boy early education correspondence later attended school queensland horseback spent half years age arthur applied join royal_australian_air_force raaf enlisted september day australia entry world war training victoria raaf station richmond new_south_wales commissioned pilot officer march despite prone early served initially city sydney squadron richmond operating combat service north_africa promoted flying officer arthur posted army cooperation squadron departed unit north_africa july scored aerial victory shooting italian north west egypt december day shot bail narrowly avoiding disaster oxygen wing wires torn loose height feet force rushing air stricken plane fell earth arthur claimed victim unit equipped january flying hurricane shot april squadron began replacing hurricanes october arthur promoted flight lieutenant appointed flight commander shot enemy aircraft single sortie near november flying squadron new claimed destroyed plane damaged way base land desert way airfield foot great skill gallantry action earned january time arthur met future wife shop alexandria married december palestine syria sudden romance came shock arthur parents later recalled letter got fair imitation panic think leave able contact brother norman serving military policeman completing tour squadron arthur repatriated australia new bride march ship melbourne bombay picked refugees following recent fall singapore couple eventually children japanese advanced early raaf established new fighter units australia northern defence nos squadrons arthur posted squadron april flying new_guinea brother norman killed action november serving 31st infantry battalion promoted squadron leader february succeeded commanding officer squadron based bay control arthur developed reputation courtesy concern welfare men despite fact youngest officer new squadron commanded respect believed like work hard like frightened pretends like don having shot bomber march arthur awarded gallantry leadership devotion duty april occasion spite guns led allied aircraft including nos squadrons determined head attack intercept japanese raiders destroyed defenders arthur described situation combat unable shoot sort awkward fortunately know compensate lack offensive weaponry repeatedly attempting ram raiders try force sea promoted acting wing commander june arthur wing leader wing controlled squadron combat units november involved collision airfield squadron pilot killed arthur received burns later recalled felt hands disappear felt face rest body flames sudden flames dropped bit got went like mad running away aircraft trying guess far try flames family informed injuries slight nature burnt badly arthur close death weeks treated finally repatriated sydney underwent plastic surgery recovery april attended staff course taking command operational training unit victoria august age promoted temporary group captain youngest raaf december took command wing australian tactical air force based dutch_east_indies april having recently assumed command wing arthur helped trigger incident known mutiny phrase originating aide time senior pilots including australia scoring ace group captain fellow veterans north african campaign attempted resign commissions protest raaf fighter squadrons apparently worthless ground attack missions frustrated lack attention paid headquarters balance sheet produced showing operational losses results arthur later said object mutiny big possibly object getting position corrected government inquiry incident pilots finding motives sincere arthur remained charge wing commenced handed command wing remained end war addition receiving arthur twice mentioned despatches war official final tally victories enemy aircraft destroyed reported confirmed kills reflecting later fighter pilot military career arthur said glad flown single seat aircraft bombers felt uncomfortable anybody responsible post war life arthur discharged raaf february took residence darwin initially working joined later travelled vietnam establish dairy farm plan captured released ransom paid reportedly continued work vietnam incident running business supplying duck feathers american military use life jackets returning australia administration manager exploration unit responsible discovering ranger deposit died december age flew winning action april purchased australian war memorial canberra display aircraft hall
Wilfred Arthur