William Henry Garing | |
|---|---|
 Group Captain Bill Garing in Cyprus, 1953 | |
| Nickname(s) | Bull |
| Born | 26 July 1910 Corryong, Victoria |
| Died | 1 January 2004 (aged 93) |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/ | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1928–64 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Commands held | RAAF Overseas Headquarters (1953) Western Area Command (1946–48) No. 1 Operational Training Unit RAAF (1943–44) No. 9 Operational Group RAAF (1942–43) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches Distinguished Service Cross (United States) |
Air Commodore William "Bill" Garing, CBE, DFC (26 July 1910 – 1 January 2004)[1] was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force.
Early life
William Henry Garing was born in Corryong, Victoria, on 26 September 1910 to parents George and Amy. His education included Corryong Higher Elementary School, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Royal Military College, Duntroon.[2] At Duntroon, he graduated as a cadet from the Flying-Training School at Point Cook in 1929.
Career
Garing later joined the RAAF after enlisting at Point Cook on 10 December 1930.
In 1931 and 1939, Garing spent time in the UK and was there at the outbreak of World War II. He served with No. 10 Squadron RAAF, flying Sunderlands as Flight Commander in the Coastal Command R.A.F. conducting anti-submarine operations and patrols from bases in the United Kingdom. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross after he held off three waves of German bombers, over 12 hours, that were attacking the Armed Merchant Cruiser Mooltan on 31 July 1940.[1][3] Garing was also instrumental in ensuring that a final group of survivors of City of Benares were picked up on 25 September 1940.
Garing returned to Australia in 1941 and commanded No.9 (Operational) Group R.A.A.F.. When ranked as a Group Captain, received the US Army Distinguished Service Cross for "extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, 23 July 1942 to 8 January 1943".[4][5]
In 1948, Garing was at the Joint Services Staff College in the U.K and in 1953 would take command of the RAAF Overseas Headquarters in London. He retired in July 1964.
Personal life
Garing's first marriage ended in 1940 and produced two children. His second marriage in 1954 produced two more daughters.
Garing died 1 January 2004, after a very long illness and was buried at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium one week later.
References
- 1 2 Stephens, Dr Alan. "Air Force News -Brilliant wartime leader". Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- ↑ "William Henry (Bull) GARING DFC, MID, USDFC, CBE". vwma.org.au. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ↑ "Australian War Memorial". ajrp.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 December 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ "Group Captain William Henry "Bull" Garing, CBE, DFC". Home.st.net.au. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
External links
- Air Commodore William Henry (Bill) Garing Interviews - Australian War Memorial
- William Henry (Bull) GARING DFC, MID, USDFC, CBE Virtual War Memorial Australia
- The Aussie pilot who saved stricken kids after a U-Boat attack In Black and White - podcast