William Bostock
RAAF senior commander (1892-1968) · Australia · On the map · Politicians · Died at 76
Air Vice Marshal William Dowling Bostock, was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). During World War II he led RAAF Command, the Air Force's main operational formation, with responsibility for the defence of Australia and air offensives against Japanese targets in the South West Pacific Area.
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Photos 7
Wapitis of No. 3 Squadron, commanded by Bostock, in the Richmond area, October 1932
Air Vice Marshal Bostock (right) as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Burnett, in May 1942
Bostock (right) with Australian I Corps commander Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Morshead (centre) and Rear Admiral Forrest B. Royal of the US Navy (left), following a meeting at Morotai in April 1945
Bostock (centre) with newly appointed Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal George Jones (left), and former CAS, Air Chief Marshal Burnett, in 1942
Bostock (front row, left), General Sir Thomas Blamey (front row, centre) and Air Vice Marshal Jones (behind Blamey) with other Australian delegates to the Japanese surrender aboard USS Missouri, September 1945
Bostock as Member for IndiAwards
About this person
His achievements in the role earned him the Distinguished Service Order and the American Medal of Freedom. General Douglas MacArthur described him as "one of the world's most successful airmen".
