SAAM Aviator Profiles

Stories of South Australian aviators, aircrew and aviation pioneers

Explore profiles researched by the SAAM History Group, sharing the stories of South Australian aviators, aircrew, engineers, aviation pioneers and people who helped shape Australian aviation history.

The Dudley ANGAS & Donald LOFTES Affair

Events surrounding the crash of Dudley Angas' Sopwith Dove in Keith in 1920.

AYLIFFE, John Colin

FLGOFF 455 Squadron, Beaufighter Pilot, DFC

BAKER, Thomas Charles Richmond

CAPT 4 Squadron, AFC, DFC, MM, & Bar

BARNES, Reginald Jeffrey “Jeff”

LAC 67, 13 & 21 Squadrons Possibly the first S.A. Aboriginal in the RAAF

BAXTER, John Russell “Russ”

FLTLT 131 & 453 Squadrons

BEDFORD, William “Bill” Rudolf Buddicom

Kyancutta

BELL, John Napier

FLTLT, Pilot, 10 Squadron KIA on a secret mission to evacuate General De-Gaulle's family from northern France.

BENCE, Leonard Pendrell

PLTOFF 106 Squadron (Bomber Command), 30 missions

BENNETT, Clarence Charles

PLTOFF 248 Squadron (RAF), Battle of Britain pilot

BETTERIDGE, Allan Rupert

The first flight in South Australian aviation history in which the pilot flew an aircraft of his own design.

BONYTHON, Hugh Reskymer (Kym)

SQNLDR 2 & 87 Squadrons

BRIGGS, Frank

WW1 Pilot, RFC, RAF First Flight Melbourne to Perth in 1920

BUCKLEY, Noble Sydney Douglas (Nobby)

MBE, Chief Pilot Guinea Airways President of the Australian Air Pilots Association

BUNGEY, Robert Wilton

SQNLDR RAF 226, 145 & 452 Squadrons

BUTLER, Henry John (Harry)

CAPT/FC RFC, Harry Butler and Kauper Aviation Co Ltd. Early aerial photographer.

CHADWICK, Alan Edward

Cheif Pilot Bush Church Aid Flying Medical Service, Ceduna

CHESTER Brothers (Herbert & Richard)

Mechanics, AFC, AAC

CHOMLEY, George Alec (Alec)

FSGT 79 Squadron

CLEARY, Helen Agnes

RAAF Nurse WW2, Korea, Vietnam

CLISBY, Leslie Redford (Les)

FLGOFF 1 Squadron RAF, DFC

COCK John Reynolds

South Australian Battle of France and Battle of Britain Air Ace DFC

CONSTANTINE, Alexander (Noel)

WGCDR 141 & 273 Squadrons RAF

COWPER, Robert Barson (Bob)

SQNLDR 89 & 108 Squadrons RAF, 456 Squadron RAAF DFC & Bar, OAM, Legion of Honour (Fr)

CRONK, James Langstone

Participated in the Tarakan Amphibious Landing

DAW, Brian Gofton

WW2 CAF WAG, Observer, Navigator Fairey Battle, Avro Anson, Guinea Airways Douglas C-50 & Lockheed Lodestar

DENNIS, Kevin

WO 462 Squadron RAAF, CGM The only South Australian Airman to be awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal

DOUDY, John C. (Jack)

WO 167& 45 Squadrons RAF Commodore Aviation, Port Lincoln

DOWNING, John

WGCDR 82 Wing Amberley DFC, DFC(US) Member of the First Crew to Safely Eject from a Canberra Bomber.

ELLIS, Reginald Sidney

FLTLT 463 Squadron RAAF Flight Instructor Royal Aero Club of South Australia.

ESPELAND, Brenton

AVM 36 Squadron RAAF, AM

FRAYNE, Ross

WW2 and Korean War Pilot US Air Medal Mustang, Vampire, Vickers Valiant Crashed and Killed in a Meteor at Mallala.

FREEMAN, John

OAM, Trojan Aerial Spraying Co., United Aviation Ltd., Trojan Aerial Services Pty. Ltd.

GOLDSWORTHY, Warwick

Opal Air

GROPLER, Roy W.

Flew solo from England to Australia in 1930, at the age of 19 years.

HAINES, Norman Dudley

Killed in the crash of Anson R3542 on 4/8/42 After a collision with Anson W2165

HAMILTON, Lew

WGCDR RAF 248 & 464 Squadrons Battle of Britain Pilot

HAY, Robert Claude

FLTLT 455 Squadron RAAF, 50 & 617 Squadrons RAF Dambuster, DFC & Bar

HENDRICK, Howard

WW2 RAAF Pilot 460SQN. Vickers Wellington, Lancaster 30 missions in Bomber Command (DFC) BOAC pilot flying a Lancastrian.

HERAPATH, Sydney David (David)

RAAF 9 Communications Unit, Papua

HERBERT, Michael Patrick John (Herbie)

FLGOFF 2 Squadron, Canberra Bombers Lost in action on his 199th mission in Vietnam.

HILL, Clive

FLGOFF 100 & 625 Squadrons RAF 33 Bombing Missions, Legion of Honour (Fr)

HORN Brothers

Kelham Horn - Major 7 & 54 Squadrons RFC, MC & Croix de Guerre Marmaduke Horn - QM Section, Croix de Guerre Spencer Horn - FLTCDR 60 & 85 Squadrons RFC, Liberty Cross

HUSSEY, Herbert Bindley (Bert)

SGT AIF, AASC, AFC MacRobinson Miller & Qantas Pilot

HUXLEY, Frederick George

AIF for 7 months then FLTLT 66 Squadron AFC Served in WW1 & WW2, Qantas Chief Pilot in 1923

JOHANSON, Jon

Nurse, Aircraft Constructor, Pilot, World Record Holder Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Gold Medal for 2004.

KENNY, William David (Dave)

AMF Light Horse, FLTLT 9 AFU & 68 & 49 Squadrons RAF DFC

KILLMIER Alan George

RAAF WW2, J.P., co-founder of the Gliding and Soaring Club of South Australia Royal Aero Club

KLEINIG, Theodore Victor Benno (Ted)

FLGOFF 8 Squadron, KIA Milne Bay

LARKIN Brothers

Herbert Larkin - FLTCDR 5 & 87 Squardons RFC Reginald Larkin - 2nd LT Pilot 101 Squadron RFC

LEICESTER, David Lewis (Lewis)

SQNLDR 158 & 35 Squadrons (Pathfinders) DFC & Bar, OAM

MACINTOSH, Robert Andrew (Bob)

WGCDR 77 Squadron Sabres (Korea) 9 Squadron Vietnam (Helicopters)

MATULICH Brothers

LT Charles Matulich - AIF, 14 RFC & 1 AFC Laurence Matulich - 1 AFC, S.A. Airways Ltd.

MATULICH, Lawrence Claude

Laurence Matulich - 1 AFC, S.A. Airways Ltd.

McALONEY, William Simpson (Bill)

WGCDR Engine Fitter 1 Squadron OBE, George Cross

McCLOUGHRY Brothers

Wilfred McLoughry - 100 Squardon RFC & 2 Squadron AFC MC Edgar McCloughry - 4 Squadron AFC & FLTLT RAF DSO

McINTYRE, Ivor Ewing

FLTLT RNAS then RAF, Air Force Cross & Oswald Watt Medal

McROSTIE, Arthur George

WO RAF 106, 630 & 617 Squadrons Lancaster Mid-Upper Gunner

MELROSE, Charles James (Jimmy)

1934 Air Race Mildenhall (England) to Melbourne.

MERRILL, Raymond Lewis

FYGOFF 218 Squadron RAF Tail Gunner - 36 Missions

MESSERSCHMITT, Wilhelm Emil (Willy)

& the Bf109-E

MILDE, Ern

FLGOFF Bomber Command Pilot 460 Squadron

MILLER, Horatio Clive (Horrie)

AFC, McRobertson Miller Aviation Co.

MILLINGTON, William (Bill)

PLTOFF 79 Squadron RAF KIA Battle of Britain

MOFFITT, Robert Blackhall

A tale of survival The remarkable story of FSGT Bob Moffitt RAAF

O’CONNOR, Leigh Thomas

O'Connor's Air Services

PASCOE, Rena June

WAAAF WW2

PINK, Sydney James (Jimmy)

FLTLT RAF WW2 117, 215 & 48 Squadrons BOAC, Singapore Airlines, Air Lanka. SAAM member

POPLE, Bill

RAAF Air Frame Fitter. AV Roe (Blue Steel Project) Aircraft Recovery Specialist

QUINN, Eldred (Ted)

PLTOFF 80 Squadron (Kittyhawk Pilot) KIA 1945 Borneo

RECHNER, Reginald Max (Reg)

GPCAPT 233 & 11 Squadrons CBE, DFC & AE, Branch Manager TAA

REYNELL, Richard Carew (Dickie)

FLTLT RAF 43 Squadron KIA 1940 South London

RILEY, Frederick Cecil (Fred)

FLGOFF 130 & 186 Squadrons RAF (Spitfires)

SCHNEIDER, Harry

Glider Pilot and Manufacturer Kangaroo, Kookaburra, Boomerang, Platypus

SENTANCE, Peter

RAF Pilot 1937 - 1945 Avro Anson, Gloster Gladiator, Percival Proctor Vickers Wellington, Avro Lancaster & Others Luton Flying Club Manager

SHANNON, David John

FLTLT 106 & 617 Squadron RAF Bomber Pilot, Dam Busters. DFC DSO & Bar

SHEARN, Hartley Vivian (Viv)

WGCDR RAAF 457 & 77 Squadrons DFC AFC

SHIERS, Walter Henry (Wally)

WW1 1 Squadron AFC & 31 Squadron RAF Member of the 1919 England to Australia Flight

SHOPPEE, Kevin Damian Joseph

Australian Army Aviation Corps 1 Aviation Regiment Fatally crashed 1973 at Goroka PNG

SMITH Brothers (Ross & Keith)

Keith Smith - 58 Squadron RFC Ross Smith - 1 Squadron AFC 1919 England to Australia Flight

SMITH, Ross & the Vimy Crew

1919 England to Australia Flight

SMITH, W.F.E. (Bill)

AFC, Keith Farmer's Aerial Circus

SPAFFORD, Fred (Spam)

FLGOFF 617 Squadron RAF Bomb-Aimer, Dambuster. DFC DFM

STANFORD, Ross Milton

WW2 Pilot 467SQN (RAAF) & 617 SQN(RAF) & First Class Cricketer

SUTHERLAND, Alan D’Arcy

WW1 RFC Died in a training accident

TAYLOR, Alex

One of South Australia's first Aboriginals to join the RAAF.

TICKLE, Harry

FLTSGT RAAF 460 Squadron Carried out repairs for 'G' for George

TINDALE, Norman Barnett

WGCDR WW2 Intelligence Officer

TONGERIE, George

RAAF LAC 12, 44 & 86 Squadrons J.P. & OA

WARREN, Dr. David Ronald DeMey

AO Bsc PhD DIC FAIE Inventor - Cockpit Voice and Data Recorder

WATT, Colin

CAPT 44 Squadron RAF 23 Lancaster Missions. DFM. ANA (Ansett)

WIGGINS, Albert Lloyd

WGCDR 38 Squadron RAF. 455 & 38 Squadrons RAAF DSO DFC

WILKINS, Sir George Hubert

CAPT AFC Arctic & Antarctic Explorer

WILLIAMS, Graham Robert

WO 39 Squadron RAF Shot down in Lybia (POW). MBE

WILLIAMS, Sir Richard

RAF & AFC WW1 & RAAF WW2. Air Marshal, Pilot CBE CB DSO