ROYAL AUSTRALIAR =iR FORCE  PUBLIC RELATIONS NEWS RELEASE .  R U E  PR S4024/66

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  RAAF AIR BOARD MEMBER RETIRES Â·  Ã¢ÂÂ   v .  .

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  A senior member of the Air Board, Air Vice Marshal W.L, Bely,

CB, CBS, AEC, who has been Air Member for Personnel since i960, retires

on "Wednesday, 24th August, 1966, after 39Â§Â· years with the RAAF.

Air Vice Marshal Bel)'Â·, who now lives at ITarrabundah, Canberra,

was b o m  at Wellington, NSW, and educated at Port Street Bigh School, Sydney.

Be entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, as an airforce

cadet in 1927Â» graduated in 1930 and completed his flying training in

December, 1931Â· 1  "

Air Vice Marshal Bely was appointed to command the Survey Flight,

northern Territory, in 1937Â» and. during this period carried out two

successful search and rescue operations for aircraft lost in that area

(one was the air rescue of Sir Herbert Gepp and a survey party, and the

other was Dr Clyde Fenton - a flying doctor). For his skill and

d e t e m ination he was awarded the Air Force Cross.

His service during World War II included a number of senior unit

and staff appointments. After the war he served as Director of Organisation,

Director of Postings and Director of Personal Services until 1949 when he

completed the coarse at the Imperial Defence College.

In September, 1951Â» he became Air Officer Commanding Western Area

Headquarters at Pearce, WA. It was during his service in this appointment

that he was made a Commander of the Host Excellent Order of the British .

Empire, in recognition of the distinguished service which he had given during

the war and in relation to air support of the first atomic trial at Monte

Bello Islands in 1952.

He was Deputy Chief of the Jxir Staff at RAAF Headquarters from

1953 until 1956 when he assumed the appointment of Air Officer Commanding

Headquarters Training Command. He was promoted to the substantive rank of

Air Vice Marshal in 1956, and in 1957 was seconded to the Department of

Defence for duty as Head of the Australian Joint Services Staff in Washington,

USA. .  . .

.  He returned to Australia in i960 and assumed his present appointment

of Air Member for Personnel. '

Enquiries:-  .  Ã¢ÂÂ

Department of Air .  .  .

Directorate of Public Relations .  .

Russell Offices .  .

CANBERRA ACT Â·  . 23rd August, 1966

Telephone iio - Working Hours 65 2321-22-23 .

After Hours 9 1684 .

