ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE  PUBLIC RELATIONS  NEWS RELEASE RAAF PR No. S44II/7O

FUNERAL OF AIR VICE MARSHAL W.L. HELY. CB, CBE, AFC

The funeral of the late Air Vice Marshal William Lloyd Hely, CB

CBE, AFC, who died in Canberra on May 20, will be conducted with full RAAF

honours on Monday, 25th May, by the Venerable F.M. Hill at St, John the

Baptist Church, Reid.

The ceremony will commence with a church service at 2p.m. followed

by cremation at the Norwood Park Crematorium, Barton Highway, Gungahlin..

The supporting party will comprise six air vice marshals.

They are:

Air Vice Marshal E. Hey, CB, CBE. .

Air Vice Marshal C.G. Cleary, CBE. . :  Air Vice Marshal C.D. Candy, CB, CBE. Air Vice Marshal I.D. McLachlan, CB, CBE, DFC. Air Vice Marshal G.C. Hartnell, CBE.. .

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  Air Vice Marshal D.A. Creal, CBE..  .  Â·  .

The escorting party will comprise five RAAF officers and 100

airmen.

Chaplains will be Principal Air Chaplain the Rev. T. D. Beyer, MBE

and Chaplain the Reverend C.W.E. Rush.

The Royal Military College, Duntroon will provide the appropriate

Salute of Guns as the cortege leaves the church. .  .

The RAAF Central Band will be in attendance.

NOTEs Biographical notes on AVM W. L. Hely are on Page 2, attached.

Enquiriess

Department of Air 22nd May 1970

Directorate of Public Relations, Russell Offices, CANBERRA ACT '

Telephoness 652321-22-23  Home s 815785

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BIOGRAPHICAL MOTES

The death of Air Vice-Marshal William Lloyd Hely, CB, CBE, AFC,  recalls inbidents more than thirty years ago when, as Commanding Officer of  a RAAF Survey Flight in the Northern Territory, he fotind lost aircraft and  rescued the crews and passengers.

.  One incident was the rescue in 1937 of Sir Herbert Gepp and a

survey party. Another was the rescue, the sameÂ· year, of Dr.-Clyde Fenton,,  a flying doctor. Â·

For his skill and determination in carrying out these search and .   rescue operations he was awarded the Air Force Cross.

Air Vice Marshal Hely was b o m  at Wellington, NSW, in 1909 andÂ·,  was educated at the Fort St. High School, Sydney.

He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, as an air force  cadet in 1927 y graduated in 1930 and completed his flying training in  December, 1931.Â·

During World War 11 he commanded No.. 84.Army Co-operation Wing,  RaAF, during the final campaigns in Bougainville.

After the war he served as Director of Organisation, Director of.  Postings and Director of Personal Services until 1949 when he attended the  inperial Defence College.

In September 1951 he became Air Officer Commanding,.  Western Area  HQ, at Pearce, WA. It was during his service in this appointment that he was  awarded the CBE in recognition of distinguished service during the war and  in relation to the air support of the first atomic trial at Monte Bello  Islands in 1952. .

He was Deputy Chief of the Air Staff from 1952 until 1956 when  he assumed the appointment of Air Officer Commanding, Training Command. He  was promoted Air Vice Marshal in 1956 and in 1957 was seconded to. the  Department of Defence for duty as Head of the Australian Joint Services Stafi

in Washington, USA.

On returning to Australia in i960 he was appointed Air Member for  Personnel and continued in that appointment until his retirement in 1966. . .

Enquiries;

Department of Air, Ã¢ÂÂ   22nd May 1970

Directorate of Public Relations, Russell Offices, CANBERRA ACT '

Telephones; 652321^22-23  Home;  815785

