Salute Their Service
Biographies of the men and women of the Air Force family — pilots and ground crew, nurses and navigators — written to keep their service on the record.
WAAAF technicians at Mascot, 1944 · State Library of New South Wales · public domain
Each biography carries a service record — rank, unit, dates, theatres and honours — alongside the story. Where a life has ended, we say so, and we do not forget.
26 biographies · newest first
David Inglis Murrie
Boomerang pilot · 4 Squadron, New Guinea
Flying Officer Frederick Cecil Riley
One of South Australia’s last Second World War airmen
Flight Lieutenant Richard “Dickie” Carew Reynell
Test pilot and one of the Few · 43 Squadron RAF
Warrant Officer Robert Graham Williams MBE
Navigator, prisoner of war, first-class cricketer
Group Officer Helen Agnes Cleary RRC
Flight nurse and Matron-in-Chief · RAAF Nursing Service
Leading Aircraftman George Tongerie
From the Stolen Generations to 12 Squadron, Merauke
Wing Commander Hartley “Viv” Shearn DFC AFC
Fighter and test pilot · Second World War and Korea
Wing Commander William “Bill” Simpson McAloney GC
Engine fitter · Albert Medal for gallantry, 1938
Air Vice-Marshal Eric Hay “Steve” Stephenson AO OBE
Lancaster navigator, prisoner of war, RAAF medical officer
Air Commodore John Charles Thorp
Bomber Command navigator · Officer Commanding RAAF Edinburgh
Salute someone
Know someone whose service should be recorded here?
A relative, a Branch member, a name on a memorial. Send us what you know — a service number and a photograph are enough to start — and the Association’s heritage volunteers will research and write the biography with you.
Keep their stories alive
Know a story that belongs here — a relative, a squadron, an aircraft? Tell us, and help the Association record and share the service of the Air Force family.