Garnet Malley
Encyclopedia
Captain Garnet Francis Malley (2 November 1892 – 20 May 1961) was a World War I
flying ace
credited with six aerial victories. He became Chiang Kaishek's aviation advisor in 1930.
. He was apprenticing as a mechanic in his father's firm in Sydney before the war started.
1917, 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. He was wounded twice in the process.
In August 1918, he was transferred to training duty with 5 Squadron RAF at Minchinhampton
, England. While there, he flew a white Camel trainer.
on 4 October 1919. He rejoined his family's concern as warehouse manager in 1921. On 25 January 1922, he married Phyllis Kathleen Dare. The union would produce one son, Maldon.
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)
, as well as a director of the firm.
In April 1929, Malley was instrumental in the search for the missing Southern Cross aircraft, its pilot Charles Kingsford-Smith, and its crew.
By 1931, the company was in financial difficulties. In early 1932, Malley traveled to China for a "prominent position" in the Chinese government's aviation corps. 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.
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.
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.
in 1948. 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
. In September 1951, Malley and his wife toured the world, visiting Algiers
, Guadaloupe, Curaçao
, Martinique
, and Tahiti
. In 1953, the Malleys rode out an earthquake and tidal wave
in Fiji.
Garnet Francis Malley died of a cardiac infarction on 20 May 1961. He was buried at sea with Anglican rites.
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.
The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded on 3 June 1919.
The American Legion of Merit was awarded in 1948.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with six aerial victories. He became Chiang Kaishek's aviation advisor in 1930.
Early life
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 CollegeHawkesbury Agricultural College
Hawkesbury Agricultural College was the first agricultural college of New South Wales, Australia. Established by Sydney Smith in Richmond, New South Wales in 1891, the college was incorporated into the University of Western Sydney in 1989....
. He was apprenticing as a mechanic in his father's firm in Sydney before the war started.
World War I service
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 AprilBloody April
During the First World War, the month of April 1917 was known as Bloody April by the Royal Flying Corps . The RFC suffered particularly severe losses — about three times as many as the Imperial German Army Air Service over the same period — but continued its primary role in support of the ground...
1917, he then transferred to the Australian Flying Corps. Malley was posted to 4 Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps as a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
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
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
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. He was wounded twice in the process.
In August 1918, he was transferred to training duty with 5 Squadron RAF at Minchinhampton
Minchinhampton
Minchinhampton is an ancient market town, located on a hilltop south-south-east of Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, in the Cotswolds. The town is twinned with Nkokoto, in Tanzania....
, England. While there, he flew a white Camel trainer.
Between the wars
Malley returned to Australia; beginning in August 1919, he toured to support the Peace Loan. He was released from the Australian Imperial ForceAustralian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second 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. The union would produce one son, Maldon.
In June 1925, he was commissioned as a Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "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
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
; he temporarily commanded his unit in 1928–1929. In 1928, Malley also became an aviation consultant to Australian National Airways (1930)
Australian National Airways (1930)
Australian National Airways was a short-lived Australian airline, founded in 1929 by Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm.The airline began operations in January 1930 with five Avro 618 Tens, similar aircraft to Kingsford Smith's famous Southern Cross...
, as well as a director of the firm.
In April 1929, Malley was instrumental in the search for the missing Southern Cross aircraft, its pilot Charles Kingsford-Smith, and its crew.
By 1931, the company was in financial difficulties. In early 1932, Malley traveled to China for a "prominent position" in the Chinese government's aviation corps. 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.
In February 1937, by influence of the British Foreign Office, Malley was appointed an honorary Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
in the RAAF Reserves. He was serving as advisor to Madame Chiang Kai-shek in her capacity as Secretary-General
Secretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
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.
World War II
Garnet Malley returned to Australia in 1940. On 1 October, he was reported to be rejoining the RAAF. 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 CaptainGroup Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
in July, ill health forced him to relinquish his post in October 1942. He was complimented by Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
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.
Post World War II
Malley was awarded the American Legion of MeritLegion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
in 1948. 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
The Blue Lagoon (1949 film)
The Blue Lagoon is a 1949 British romance and adventure film produced and directed by Frank Launder, starring Jean Simmons and Donald Houston. The screenplay was adapted by John Baines, Michael Hogan and Frank Launder from the novel The Blue Lagoon by Henry De Vere Stacpoole...
. In September 1951, Malley and his wife toured the world, visiting Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, Guadaloupe, Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, and Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
. In 1953, the Malleys rode out an earthquake and tidal wave
1953 Suva earthquake
The 1953 Suva earthquake occurred on September 14, 1953, at 00:27 UTC near Suva, Fiji, just off the southeast shore of Viti Levu. This earthquake had a magnitude of Ms 6.75. The earthquake triggered a coral reef platform collapse and a submarine landslide that caused a tsunami...
in Fiji.
Garnet Francis Malley died of a cardiac infarction on 20 May 1961. He was buried at sea with Anglican rites.
Honors and awards
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.
The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded on 3 June 1919.
The American Legion of Merit was awarded in 1948.
Further reading
- Garnet Malley & the Royal Australian Airforce's Chinese connection. Issue 54 of Paper (Australia. Royal Australian Air Force. Air Power Studies Centre). Christopher David Coulthard-Clark. Publisher: Air Power Studies Centre, 1997. No ISBN known.