West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Saturday 8 September 1951, page 2


New Officer Appointed To Lead R.A.A.F. In W.A. MELBOURNE, Friday.--Group-Ccapt. Williamn Lloyd Hely, A.F.C., a 42-year old "North-West air pioneer," has been appointed officer commanding Western Area of the Royal Australian Air Force. The appointment was one of a number announced today by the Minister for Air (Mr. McMahon).

Group-Capt. Hely, who expects to leave for Perth by air in a fortnight, has been DeputyAir Member for Personnel. R.A.A.F. headquarters, Melbourne since January 1950. Last April he was appointed an aide-de-camp to the King. In 1938 he was awarded the Air Force Cross for his work in three rescues in the Northern Territory.Group-Capt. Group-Capt. Hely said tonight that one of the most pleasing features of his new appointment was that he would be resuming direct contact with the new G.O.C. Western Command (Major-Gen. A. R. Garrett). In 1944 they worked together for Army-air operations at Bougainville.. It was as a flight-lieutenant in 1936-37 that he will be remembered by many West Australians. Based at Port Hedland, he carried out extensive aerial geographical and geophysical surveys of the whole of the Kimberleys. Other changes of appointments are: Group-Capt. W. H. Garing, commandant of the school of land-air warfare, to be commanding officer RA.A.F. station Amberley, Queensland. Group-Capt. I. D. McLachlan. Air Commodore operations R.A.A.F. headquarters, to be Officer Commanding NorthEastern Area, Townsville.

GBOUP-CAPT. W. L HELY.

Group-Capt. A. G. Carr, commanding North-Eastern Area, to be commanding officer No. 91 Wing (Japan). Group-Capt. A. D. Charlton, commanding officer No. 91 Wing to be Air Commodore operations. Group-Capt. C. T. Hannah, commanding R.A.A.F. station Amberley, to be Director of Personal Services, R.A.A.F. headquarters. Wing-Commander I. S. Podger, Director of Personal Services R.A.A.P. headquarters, to be gtoup training officer at Point Cook, Victoria.