These profiles and stories were donated to the RAAF Museum by the Gold Coast Branch of the Air Crew Association.

Service Profile: Ron Alcock

Ronald R. Alcock (ACA 17837) served in the Royal Australian Air Force from 17 July 1942 to 2 September 1977. He flew as aircrew from 1942 to July 1953. After loss of his aircrew medical category in 1953, Ron transferred to Air Defence and Fighter Control. He remained in that environment for the next 24 years, including service in Malaysia during that country's communist emergency.

As a pilot, Ron flew DH-82As, Avro Ansons, Airspeed Oxfords, B-24 Liberators, Wirraways, P-51D and Australian-built CAC Mustangs, Austers and Vampires.

In his flying career, Ron's postings included No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS), No. 4 Service Flying Training School (SFTS), No. 1 SFTS, Ground Reconnaissance School (GRS), No. 7 Operational Training Unit (OTU), No. 25 H/B Squadron, No. 21 H/B Squadron, CCU (F), No. 82 (F) Squadron, No. 3 (TAC/R) Squadron, Air Armament School, No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron and No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron.

Ron experienced active service in the South-West Pacific during World War 2, and in 1947 was a member of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan.

In 1971–72, in company with three other RAAF officers, Ron was seconded to the Royal Malaysian Air Force to set up and operate the first RMAF Air Defence Unit, using (British) Royal Air Force technical support staff and RAAF Operations Advisors for the Air Defence of Northern Malaysia.

Ron's final posting in the RAAF was to No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit, from which he retired with the rank of Wing Commander.

As it Happened: Why is a Runway 7000' Long? (76K PDF)