october june pioneering australian military civil pilot trained following graduation accepted royal_air_force raf places available royal_australian_air_force raaf time years service egypt palestine returned australia commissioned flying squadron gained flying instructor qualifications soon employed aircraft captain spent years new_guinea gaining fame expedition transferred going joined year world war broke employed predominantly singapore route unfortunate captain aircraft known shot war flying boat lost disappeared possibly shot destroyed enemy action water western australia post war recruited formation specifically retired active flying inspector safety accidents early career born tasmania october son later burton educated began engineering degree keen rower bow winning crew inter varsity brisbane aviation called entered raaf pilot training graduating end year graduates course selected raf initially sent england training assessment flew accepted posting middle_east attached army cooperation squadron raf egypt operational bristol fighter august september involved suppression riots whilst leave australia met lieutenant colonel advised gain experience larger aircraft application posting twin engine squadron refused squadron equipped allowed convert squadron flew second pilot aircraft returned australia end arriving melbourne december egypt continued interest rifle shooting photography employment public transport aviation difficult find able continue flying squadron flew second pilot pay gain experience lucky aboard ill fated southern cloud family commitments prevented taking position appointed instructor australian based november recruited aircraft captain spend years new_guinea flew time gaining experience sea operations float equipped gained fame efforts deliver supplies second expedition isolated aircraft accidentally destroyed port harbour thought camped near low supplies fuel generators operating ford fitted long range tanks found party parachute food gasoline photographs taken period known days married june melbourne couple daughter sons world war finally achieved ambition joining known appointment july singapore service commenced august westbound service officially opened august language promoted extra mate senior mate october allowed fly relief captain singapore service soon promoted master june extra master involved war effort beginning late contracted fly honolulu australia behalf raaf convenience crews regarded civilians meet american diplomatic operation raaf contracts particularly combat zones seen serving brain flew final delivery flight ferry arriving sydney october time fiji crew determined commemorate mission flying delivery fiji australia end large number day covers stamps endorsed prior departure arrival examples collector items held transported pounds weight ordinary mail behalf fiji postal authorities plan led contract convey air mail fiji start operations november returned operation january command shot seven japanese whilst carrying relief flight dutch_east_indies eighteen people board survived wounded gunfire left leg left arm broke right leg subsequent crash landing despite injuries swam miles shore looked local people found survivors days later rescued flying boat weeks later darwin hospital day japanese raid darwin good fortune flying boat survived raid flown sydney treatment unfortunate april command raaf contract involving transport military personnel found unable proceed bad weather forced attempt night landing open ocean coast new_guinea largely inexperience pilot aircraft broke landing people board survive spent hours sea rescued chance passage local steamer director general civil aviation recommended minister view circumstances held effect post war career australian government determined commercial air operations belief air transport primarily public service prevented high_court decision formed government airline compete private carriers administered operate appointed general manager new airline appointments captain remained role years retiring active flying september excess flying hours disabilities developed war injuries taking role june appointed member british_empire citation recognition captain long distinguished service civil aviation australia finally retired june settled victoria died june
Aubrey Koch