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

Service Profile: Tom King

Tom King (ACA 17430) served as a pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War 2. His service spanned the period from March 1941 to November 1945, a period of four years and nine months.

Training through the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS), Tom was a member of No. 14 Course at Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) Temora and Service Flying Training School (SFTS) Deniliquin.

He also flew at Bombing and Gunnery School (BAGS) Evans Head and the School of Army Air Co-operation. In addition, Tom flew out of Point Cook, Victoria, and Canberra, ACT.

Flying Boomerangs and Wirraways on operations, Tom saw active service in the South-West Pacific. He flew with No. 5 Squadron and No. 4 Squadron (New Guinea Army Co-operation), being Officer Commanding detached B Flight, working with United States First Marine Division, 32nd and 41st Division, US Army.

Kittyhawks, Fairey Battles, Avro Ansons, Airspeed Oxfords, DH Dragons, Austers, Ryans, DH-82s, Dakotas and a variety of light aircraft, some 28 types in all, were amongst the aircraft he flew.

Tom was demobilised in November 1945, holding the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

He continued flying in aero clubs until 1975 as an honorary instructor. While in Fiji in 1967–70, Tom started an aero club from scratch, being both President and Chief Flying Instructor.