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

Service Profile: Kev Furlonger

Kevin Furlonger (ACA 17836) joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1943, and trained as a Wireless Air Gunner (WAG) at Maryborough and Evans Head, flying in Wackett Trainers and Fairey Battles.

His training continued in the United Kingdom at Advanced Flying Unit (AFU) RAF Staverton and Morton Vallance (near Cheltenham) in Avro Ansons, followed by Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Bruntingthorpe (near Leicester) in Wellingtons, then on to Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) at Wigsley flying in Lancasters, before posting to No. 460 (RAAF) Squadron for operations in Lancasters in the European theatre during World War 2.

Kev continued to serve in the RAAF post-war, and in 1949 the title of his category was altered to 'Signaller' (SIG). He served in Nos. 6 and 11 Squadrons. During the period he was with 11 Squadron, the RAAF purchased Neptunes from the United States of America, and Kev was selected on two occasions as a member of ferry crews flying the new aircraft from USA to Australia.

Kev's next posting was to No. 1 Squadron, based in Singapore, for operations on Lincolns during the Malayan Emergency.

On his return to Australia from Malaya, he served in No. 10 Squadron before transferring to Air Traffic Control in 1956.

A number of postings within Australia followed, and Kev retired from the RAAF in 1974 holding the rank of Squadron Leader.