| Garnet Francis Malley | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 1892 Mosman, Sydney, Australia |
| Died | 20 May 1961 Fiji |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Aviation |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Unit | No.4 Squadron AFC |
| Awards | Military Cross, Air Force Cross |
| Other work | Became Chiang Kaishek's aviation advisor in 1930s |
Captain Garnet Francis Malley (2 November 1892 – 20 May 1961)[1] was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He became Chiang Kaishek's aviation advisor in 1930.[2]
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Malley was the penultimate of six children born to Clara Ellen Merritt and Francis Malley, born to them at Mosman, Sydney, Australia on 2 November 1892. He attended the Church of England Preparatory School and Hawkesbury Agricultural College. He was apprenticing as a mechanic in his father's firm in Sydney before the war started.[3]
He joined the Australian military on 12 October 1915. In March 1916, he sailed for the Western Front in France. In May, he was assigned to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. During Bloody April 1917,[4] he then transferred to the Australian Flying Corps. Malley was posted to 4 Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps as a Sopwith Camel pilot in early 1918, as the unit moved into France. On 16 March 1918, he won his initial triumph, driving down a Pfalz D.III fighter out of control. He then destroyed three German fighters, an observation balloon, and an unidentified observation plane by 1 June. In May, in the midst of this run, Malley was appointed Flight Commander; on 22 June, he received the Military Cross.[5] He was wounded twice in the process.[6]
In August 1918, he was transferred to training duty with 5 Squadron RAF at Minchinhampton, England. While there, he flew a white Camel trainer.[7]
Malley returned to Australia; beginning in August 1919, he toured to support the Peace Loan. He was released from the Australian Imperial Force on 4 October 1919. He rejoined his family's concern as warehouse manager in 1921. On 25 January 1922, he married Phyllis Kathleen Dare.[8] The union would produce one son, Maldon.[9]
In June 1925, he was commissioned as a Flight Lieutenant in No. 3 Squadron of the Citizens Air Force. From 1925–1928, he was vice-president of the Australian Flying Corps Association. In January 1928, he was promoted to honorary Squadron Leader; he temporarily commanded his unit in 1928–1929. In 1928, Malley also became an aviation consultant to Australian National Airways (1930),[10] as well as a director of the firm.[11]
In April 1929, Malley was instrumental in the search for the missing Southern Cross aircraft, its pilot Charles Kingsford-Smith, and its crew.[12]
By 1931, the company was in financial difficulties.[13] In early 1932, Malley traveled to China for a "prominent position" in the Chinese government's aviation corps.[14] His stay in China increasingly involved him in the fighting in China; his wife would relate three years of night-time air raids to her friends upon her return to Australia.[15]
In February 1937, by influence of the British Foreign Office, Malley was appointed an honorary Wing Commander in the RAAF Reserves. He was serving as advisor to Madame Chiang Kai-shek in her capacity as Secretary-General of the aeronautical commission that directed China's air force. However, Malley's reports of Japanese air tactics were discounted by his home government as being exaggerated.[16]
Garnet Malley returned to Australia in 1940. On 1 October, he was reported to be rejoining the RAAF.[17] He resumed duty as a Squadron Leader holding the position of Deputy Director of Combined Operational Intelligence Centre. A year later, in October 1941, he was promoted again to honorary Wing Commander; two months later, when Director Rupert Long departed, Malley rose to the Directorship of COIC. Despite a promotion to acting Group Captain in July, ill health forced him to relinquish his post in October 1942. He was complimented by Douglas MacArthur on his "foresight, planning, and organizational ability". Malley went on to work as officer-in-charge of the Chinese section in the Commonwealth Security Service from 1944–1947 as an honorary Group Captain.[18]
Malley was awarded the American Legion of Merit in 1948.[19] By 1949, the Malley family was spending three months per year in Fiji on the copra plantation they bought. They lived on their yacht, the Royal Flight, which was used as a setting in the film The Blue Lagoon.[20] In September 1951, Malley and his wife toured the world, visiting Algiers, Guadaloupe, Curaçao, Martinique, and Tahiti.[21] In 1953, the Malleys rode out an earthquake and tidal wave in Fiji.[22]
Garnet Francis Malley died of a cardiac infarction on 20 May 1961. He was buried at sea with Anglican rites.[23]
Military Cross (MC)
Lt. (T./Capt.) Garnet Francis Malley, Aust. F.C., attd. R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When on offensive and low-flying patrol he attacked one of two hostile scouts, which eventually turned over and fell out of control, being seen to crash by another pilot. Later, a general engagement ensued with four enemy scouts, one of which he attacked, with the result that it fell completely out of control and crashed. Prior to this occasion he had also shot down out of control another hostile machine. His courage and able leadership have resulted in his patrol carrying out excellent work under the most adverse conditions.[24]
The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded on 3 June 1919.[25]
The American Legion of Merit was awarded in 1948.
Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.