Allan Walters
Encyclopedia
Air Vice Marshal Allan Leslie Walters CB
, CBE
, AFC
(2 November 1905 – 19 October 1968) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF). Born in Victoria
, he graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon
, before transferring to the RAAF in 1928. He was considered one of the service's leading flying instructors
and aerobatic
pilots between the wars, and was appointed to his first squadron
command in 1937. Over the course of World War II
, Walters led No. 1 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron
in Singapore
, No. 1 (Fighter) Wing
in Darwin, Northern Territory
, and No. 72 Wing
in Dutch New Guinea
. He was decorated with the Air Force Cross
in 1941, and Mentioned in Despatches in 1944.
By 1945, Walters had risen to the rank of Air Commodore
, and the following year was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Already marked out for senior roles in the post-war RAAF, his positions from 1950 onwards included Air Officer Commanding
(AOC) RAAF Overseas Headquarters
in London, Head of the Australian Joint Services Staff in Washington, D.C., AOC Home Command (later to become Air Command
), Air Member for Personnel, and AOC Support Command. He was promoted to Air Vice Marshal in 1954, and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1956. Popularly known as "Wally", he retired from the military in 1962 and was living in Melbourne
when he died in 1968 at the age of sixty-two.
, Victoria, to schoolteacher Ferdinand Walters and his wife Edith. The family soon moved to Perth
, Western Australia, and Allan completed his education at Perth Modern School, where he joined the cadets
. After leaving school and spending eight months in the militia
, he entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon
, in February 1924. Graduating as a Lieutenant
in December 1927, he transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) on 1 February 1928. Ranked Flying Officer
, Walters graduated as a pilot in March 1929. He showed an aptitude for instruction, and after completing further training he was graded an 'A1' flight instructor
, a rare distinction. Posted to No. 3 Squadron
at RAAF Station Richmond
in New South Wales, operating Westland Wapiti
s, he also made a name for himself performing aerobatics
at air shows throughout the country. Walters put this particular talent to use in pursuit of his wife-to-be, Jean Manning, stunt flying above All Saints Church, North Parramatta
, where her father was rector. Reverend Manning married the couple there on 30 June 1930; they later had a daughter.
On 5 January 1931, the now-Flight Lieutenant
Walters won a trophy in an air obstacle race at the Cootamundra Air Pageant. In May the following year, he took out the NSW Air Derby and Evening News Cup. He temporarily held command of No. 3 Squadron during October 1933, in the absence of Squadron Leader Bill Bostock
. Walters was posted to Britain in 1936 to attend the Royal Air Force Staff College, Andover, and was promoted to Squadron Leader
in March 1937, while still overseas. Returning to Australia, he took command of No. 22 Squadron
on 30 June, operating Avro Anson
s out of Richmond until 3 February 1938. Between 6 and 23 February, he piloted the first overseas flight in an aeroplane designed and built in Australia when he flew the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Richard Williams, to Singapore
in a Tugan Gannet. Walters returned to Richmond to lead No. 3 Squadron from 10 May 1938 until 12 May 1939, flying Hawker Demons. From there he transferred to Melbourne
as Director of Staff Duties at RAAF Headquarters. Later that month, he joined Group Captain Henry Wrigley
as an expert assessor on the panel of an inquiry into a recent spate of three Anson accidents; the full report handed down in October found human error the likely explanation for at least one crash and that training on the type followed the syllabus laid down, but that pilots needed more practical experience in dealing with potential in-flight incidents.
Walters' first operational appointment following the outbreak of World War II
was as Commanding Officer of No. 1 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron
, which he led to Sembawang
, Singapore in July 1940. Deployed in response to fears of Japanese
expansion in Malaya, the squadron was the first Australian unit equipped with Lockheed Hudson
light bombers, which were employed primarily in maritime patrol
work. Promoted to temporary Wing Commander
, Walters was awarded the Air Force Cross
for his "very active part in all operations" and for training his unit to "a particularly high standard"; the honour was gazetted
in the 1941 King's Birthday Honours. He was appointed Commanding Officer of RAAF Station Laverton, Victoria in May the same year. By April 1942, he had been promoted to temporary Group Captain
and joined Allied Air Forces Headquarters, South West Pacific Area (SWPA) in Melbourne as Director of Operations. In September, he was transferred to Headquarters RAAF Command
as Senior Air Staff Officer.
On 7 October 1942, Walters took command of a new formation, No. 1 (Fighter) Wing
, at RAAF Station Richmond. Established to boost the air defence capability of Australia's North Western Area
, the wing comprised No. 54 Squadron RAF, No. 452 Squadron RAAF
and No. 457 Squadron RAAF
, all operating Supermarine Spitfire
s and fresh from combat in Europe. With Wing Commander Clive Caldwell
, Australia's top-scoring flying ace
of the war, as his wing leader, Walters began transferring aircraft and men to Darwin
, Northern Territory in December, providing a filip for morale in the region. Proudly declaring himself Australia's oldest fighter pilot, Walters took every opportunity to join his men in aerial combat. He flew as Caldwell's wingman
in No. 1 Wing's first major action against the Japanese over Darwin on 2 May, narrowly avoiding being shot down when he warned his companion of an attacking enemy fighter, to the detriment of his own safety. After they landed, Caldwell chided his commander, "You silly old so-and-so. You want to look after your own skin instead of worrying about someone else's!" On 20 June, Walters participated in his wing's most successful day against the Japanese to that date, personally accounting for one of fourteen raiders brought down by the Spitfires, for the loss of two of their own number. He posted out of Darwin a few days later, having earned the admiration of Caldwell and the rest of the wing's personnel.
Walters assumed command of No. 5 Service Flying Training School
in Uranquinty, New South Wales on 30 June, but the next month was posted to Merauke
in Dutch New Guinea to take over No. 72 Wing
following reassignment of its founding commander, Group Captain Charles Eaton
. Comprising No. 84 Squadron
(flying CAC Boomerang
fighters), No. 86 Squadron
(P-40 Kittyhawk
fighters), and No. 12 Squadron
(A-31 Vengeance dive bombers), No. 72 Wing came under the control of RAAF North Eastern Area Command, and undertook air defence and patrol tasks in and around western New Guinea. Walters was Mentioned in Despatches on 28 October 1944 for "Gallant & distinguished service" in North Eastern Area, the award being promulgated on 9 March 1945. He was promoted to acting Air Commodore
in February 1945, and became Air Officer Commanding
(AOC) Northern Command, based at Madang
in north-eastern New Guinea. Northern Command had previously been a large mobile strike force known as No. 9 Operational Group
, but had evolved into a static area command with its mobile function taken over by No. 10 Operational Group (later First Tactical Air Force
). Walters directed Northern Command's operations in New Guinea, New Britain
and Bougainville
until the end of the war, and represented the RAAF at the Japanese surrender ceremonies held in Wewak
that September.
and Frederick Scherger
, earmarked by the Australian Air Board in October 1945 for senior leadership roles in the post-war Air Force. In the short term, however, he reverted to his substantive rank of Group Captain, as the officer corps shrank drastically with demobilisation. In 1946, Walters became Director of Air Staff Plans and Policy at RAAF Headquarters, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the King's Birthday Honours for his "conspicuous service in operations against the Japanese" while in charge of Northern Command during the war. The following year, he attended the Imperial Defence College, London
. Raised to Air Commodore, he served as AOC Southern Area from 1948 to 1950, and then as AOC RAAF Overseas Headquarters in London through 1951. In December that year, he was part of the Australian contingent at the Commonwealth Air Forces Conference, where an RAAF presence was sought in the Middle East; this eventually led to No. 78 Wing
being reformed and deployed to RAF Hal Far
, Malta, in July 1952. Although Walters was keen to use the opportunity to acquire the RAAF's first F-86 Sabre
s, political realities led him to negotiate a deal whereby the wing was equipped with leased British Vampire FB.9s
.
After completing his tour in London, Walters was posted to Washington, D.C. to head up the Australian Joint Services Staff during 1952–53. He was promoted to acting Air Vice Marshal in October 1952; this rank was made permanent in January 1954, when he succeeded Air Vice Marshal McCauley to become AOC Home Command (later Operational Command and now Air Command
). Walters held this post for three years, his tenure witnessing the introduction of the CAC Sabre
to operational service in the RAAF, when No. 3 Squadron
took delivery of its first machine in March 1956. In the New Years Honours that year, Walters had been appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). In March 1957, he was one of three candidates, along with Air Vice Marshals Fred Scherger and Val Hancock, touted as possible successors to Air Marshal Sir John McCauley as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), the RAAF's senior position. Scherger gained the appointment, and Walters became Air Member for Personnel in October. He served in this position until August 1959, when he was appointed AOC Support Command. When Scherger's term as CAS was due to complete in May 1961, Walters and Hancock were once more put forward to the Minister for Air
as potential replacements. "Walters was again unlucky", in the words of RAAF historians Alan Stephens and Keith Isaacs, Hancock's "professional ability, operational experience and personal qualities" being deemed more appropriate for the role. Walters retired from the military on 16 May 1962, after completing his term at Headquarters Support Command. He followed horse racing in private life. Survived by his wife and daughter, Walters died from cardiorenal failure
in Heidelberg
, Melbourne, on 19 October 1968. He was accorded an Air Force funeral and cremated.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
(2 November 1905 – 19 October 1968) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF). Born in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, he graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
, before transferring to the RAAF in 1928. He was considered one of the service's leading flying instructors
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
and aerobatic
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
pilots between the wars, and was appointed to his first squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
command in 1937. Over the course of World War II
Military history of Australia during World War II
Australia entered World War II shortly after the invasion of Poland, declaring war on Germany on 3 September 1939. By the end of the war, almost a million Australians had served in the armed forces, whose military units fought primarily in the European theatre, North African campaign, and...
, Walters led No. 1 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron
No. 1 Squadron RAAF
No. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, No. 1 (Fighter) Wing
No. 1 Wing RAAF
No. 1 Wing was an Australian Flying Corps and Royal Australian Air Force wing active during World War I and World War II. The wing was established on 1 September 1917 as the 1st Training Wing and commanded the AFC's pilot training squadrons in England until April 1919, when it was...
in Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, and No. 72 Wing
No. 72 Wing RAAF
No. 72 Wing was a Royal Australian Air Force wing of World War II. It was formed in April 1943 at Townsville, Queensland as part of North Eastern Area Command. Led by Group Captain Charles Eaton, the wing soon deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea, where it comprised three squadrons flying CAC...
in Dutch New Guinea
Netherlands New Guinea
Netherlands New Guinea refers to the West Papua region while it was an overseas territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1949 to 1962. Until 1949 it was a part of the Netherlands Indies. It was commonly known as Dutch New Guinea...
. He was decorated with the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
in 1941, and Mentioned in Despatches in 1944.
By 1945, Walters had risen to the rank of Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
, and the following year was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Already marked out for senior roles in the post-war RAAF, his positions from 1950 onwards included Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
(AOC) RAAF Overseas Headquarters
RAAF Overseas Headquarters
RAAF Overseas Headquarters was a Royal Australian Air Force administrative unit located in London. It was formed on 1 December 1941 to oversee the welfare of RAAF personnel posted to Royal Air Force units as well as the Australian squadrons which were planned to be formed as part of the RAF in...
in London, Head of the Australian Joint Services Staff in Washington, D.C., AOC Home Command (later to become Air Command
RAAF Air Command
Air Command is the operational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force . It is headed by the Air Commander Australia, whose role is to manage and command the RAAF's Force Element Groups , which contain the operational capability of the Air Force...
), Air Member for Personnel, and AOC Support Command. He was promoted to Air Vice Marshal in 1954, and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1956. Popularly known as "Wally", he retired from the military in 1962 and was living in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
when he died in 1968 at the age of sixty-two.
Early career
Allan Walters was born on 2 November 1905 in Ascot ValeAscot Vale, Victoria
Ascot Vale is a suburb 7 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley. At the 2006 Census, Ascot Vale had a population of 12,398....
, Victoria, to schoolteacher Ferdinand Walters and his wife Edith. The family soon moved to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia, and Allan completed his education at Perth Modern School, where he joined the cadets
Australian Army Cadets
The Australian Army Cadets is a youth organisation that is involved with progressive training of youths in military and adventurous activities. The programme has more than 19,000 Army Cadets between the ages of 12½ and 19 based in 236 units around Australia...
. After leaving school and spending eight months in the militia
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
, he entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
, in February 1924. Graduating as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in December 1927, he transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) on 1 February 1928. Ranked Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
, Walters graduated as a pilot in March 1929. He showed an aptitude for instruction, and after completing further training he was graded an 'A1' flight instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
, a rare distinction. Posted to No. 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAAF
No. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. It was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales.-World War I:...
at RAAF Station Richmond
RAAF Base Richmond
RAAF Base Richmond is one of Australia's oldest and largest air force bases. It is located within the City of Hawkesbury in the north-western fringe of Sydney, New South Wales, between the towns of Windsor and Richmond. The base is home to the Royal Australian Air Force's transport headquarters,...
in New South Wales, operating Westland Wapiti
Westland Wapiti
The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s. It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service....
s, he also made a name for himself performing aerobatics
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
at air shows throughout the country. Walters put this particular talent to use in pursuit of his wife-to-be, Jean Manning, stunt flying above All Saints Church, North Parramatta
North Parramatta, New South Wales
North Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Parramatta is located 24 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta...
, where her father was rector. Reverend Manning married the couple there on 30 June 1930; they later had a daughter.
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"...
Walters won a trophy in an air obstacle race at the Cootamundra Air Pageant. In May the following year, he took out the NSW Air Derby and Evening News Cup. He temporarily held command of No. 3 Squadron during October 1933, in the absence of Squadron Leader Bill Bostock
William Bostock
Air Vice Marshal William Dowling Bostock CB, DSO, OBE was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force. 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...
. Walters was posted to Britain in 1936 to attend the Royal Air Force Staff College, Andover, and was promoted to 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...
in March 1937, while still overseas. Returning to Australia, he took command of No. 22 Squadron
No. 22 Squadron RAAF
No. 22 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force mixed regular and reserve squadron that provides support for the RAAF in the Sydney region. Formed in 1936, the squadron served in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War, and later followed the Pacific war as far as the Philippines...
on 30 June, operating Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
s out of Richmond until 3 February 1938. Between 6 and 23 February, he piloted the first overseas flight in an aeroplane designed and built in Australia when he flew the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Richard Williams, to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in a Tugan Gannet. Walters returned to Richmond to lead No. 3 Squadron from 10 May 1938 until 12 May 1939, flying Hawker Demons. From there he transferred to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
as Director of Staff Duties at RAAF Headquarters. Later that month, he joined Group Captain Henry Wrigley
Henry Wrigley
Air Vice Marshal Henry Neilson Wrigley CBE, DFC, AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force . A pioneer aviator and theorist, he piloted the first trans-Australia flight from Melbourne to Darwin in 1919, and subsequently laid the groundwork for the RAAF's air power doctrine...
as an expert assessor on the panel of an inquiry into a recent spate of three Anson accidents; the full report handed down in October found human error the likely explanation for at least one crash and that training on the type followed the syllabus laid down, but that pilots needed more practical experience in dealing with potential in-flight incidents.
World War II
Military history of Australia during World War II
Australia entered World War II shortly after the invasion of Poland, declaring war on Germany on 3 September 1939. By the end of the war, almost a million Australians had served in the armed forces, whose military units fought primarily in the European theatre, North African campaign, and...
was as Commanding Officer of No. 1 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron
No. 1 Squadron RAAF
No. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
, which he led to Sembawang
Sembawang
Sembawang is an area in the Northern-most portion of Singapore, encompassing the largest land mass within the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency. The incumbent Member of Parliament for the Sembawang Constituency is Khaw Boon Wan. The constituency jurisdiction extends into the Woodlands...
, Singapore in July 1940. Deployed in response to fears of Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
expansion in Malaya, the squadron was the first Australian unit equipped with Lockheed Hudson
Lockheed Hudson
The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
light bombers, which were employed primarily in maritime patrol
Maritime patrol
Maritime patrol is the task of monitoring areas of water. Generally conducted by military and law enforcement agencies, maritime patrol is usually aimed at identifying human activities....
work. Promoted to temporary 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...
, Walters was awarded the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
for his "very active part in all operations" and for training his unit to "a particularly high standard"; the honour was gazetted
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
in the 1941 King's Birthday Honours. He was appointed Commanding Officer of RAAF Station Laverton, Victoria in May the same year. By April 1942, he had been promoted to temporary Group Captain
Group 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...
and joined Allied Air Forces Headquarters, South West Pacific Area (SWPA) in Melbourne as Director of Operations. In September, he was transferred to Headquarters RAAF Command
RAAF Command
RAAF Command was the main operational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. The command was established in September 1942 and by April 1943 comprised 27 squadrons, including units from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as Australia...
as Senior Air Staff Officer.
On 7 October 1942, Walters took command of a new formation, No. 1 (Fighter) Wing
No. 1 Wing RAAF
No. 1 Wing was an Australian Flying Corps and Royal Australian Air Force wing active during World War I and World War II. The wing was established on 1 September 1917 as the 1st Training Wing and commanded the AFC's pilot training squadrons in England until April 1919, when it was...
, at RAAF Station Richmond. Established to boost the air defence capability of Australia's North Western Area
North Western Area Campaign
The North-Western Area Campaign was an air campaign fought between the Allied and Japanese air forces over northern Australia and the Netherlands East Indies between 1942 and 1945...
, the wing comprised No. 54 Squadron RAF, No. 452 Squadron RAAF
No. 452 Squadron RAAF
No. 452 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was originally formed in 1941 fighter unit formed in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II, in England. The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfires for the entire war, initially over...
and No. 457 Squadron RAAF
No. 457 Squadron RAAF
No. 457 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in England during June 1941 as an Article XV squadron equipped with Supermarine Spitfire fighters...
, all operating Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s and fresh from combat in Europe. With Wing Commander Clive Caldwell
Clive Caldwell
Group Captain Clive Robertson Caldwell DSO, DFC & Bar was the leading Australian air ace of World War II. He is officially credited with shooting down 28.5 enemy aircraft in over 300 operational sorties. In addition to his official score, he has been ascribed six probables and 15 damaged...
, Australia's top-scoring 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...
of the war, as his wing leader, Walters began transferring aircraft and men to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, Northern Territory in December, providing a filip for morale in the region. Proudly declaring himself Australia's oldest fighter pilot, Walters took every opportunity to join his men in aerial combat. He flew as Caldwell's wingman
Wingman
A wingman is a pilot who supports another in a potentially dangerous flying environment. Wingman was originally a term referring to the plane flying beside and slightly behind the lead plane in an aircraft formation....
in No. 1 Wing's first major action against the Japanese over Darwin on 2 May, narrowly avoiding being shot down when he warned his companion of an attacking enemy fighter, to the detriment of his own safety. After they landed, Caldwell chided his commander, "You silly old so-and-so. You want to look after your own skin instead of worrying about someone else's!" On 20 June, Walters participated in his wing's most successful day against the Japanese to that date, personally accounting for one of fourteen raiders brought down by the Spitfires, for the loss of two of their own number. He posted out of Darwin a few days later, having earned the admiration of Caldwell and the rest of the wing's personnel.
Walters assumed command of No. 5 Service Flying Training School
No. 5 Service Flying Training School RAAF
No. 5 Service Flying Training School was a Royal Australian Air Force flight training unit of World War II. Its role was to provide intermediate and advanced flight training to new pilots as part of Australia's contribution to the Empire Air Training Scheme...
in Uranquinty, New South Wales on 30 June, but the next month was posted to Merauke
Merauke
Merauke is a town considered to be one of the easternmost towns in Indonesia, located in Merauke Regency, Papua province, Indonesia. It is next to Maro River.In 2006 it had a population of 71,838....
in Dutch New Guinea to take over No. 72 Wing
No. 72 Wing RAAF
No. 72 Wing was a Royal Australian Air Force wing of World War II. It was formed in April 1943 at Townsville, Queensland as part of North Eastern Area Command. Led by Group Captain Charles Eaton, the wing soon deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea, where it comprised three squadrons flying CAC...
following reassignment of its founding commander, Group Captain Charles Eaton
Charles Eaton (RAAF officer)
Charles Eaton OBE, AFC was a senior officer and aviator in the Royal Australian Air Force , who later served as a diplomat. Born in London, he joined the British Army upon the outbreak of World War I and saw action on the Western Front before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in 1917...
. Comprising No. 84 Squadron
No. 84 Squadron RAAF
No. 84 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II.-History:No. 84 Squadron was formed at RAAF Base Richmond on 5 February 1943 and was the first RAAF Squadron to be equipped with the Australian-designed Boomerang fighter. In April 1943 No...
(flying CAC Boomerang
CAC Boomerang
The CAC Boomerang was a World War II fighter aircraft designed and manufactured in Australia between 1942 and 1945. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation produced Boomerangs under the production contract numbers CA-12, CA-13, CA-14 and CA-19, with aircraft supplied under each subsequent contract...
fighters), No. 86 Squadron
No. 86 Squadron RAAF
No. 86 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The Squadron was formed in March 1943 and was disbanded in December 1945 after seeing action in the South West Pacific Theatre of the war.-History:...
(P-40 Kittyhawk
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
fighters), and No. 12 Squadron
No. 12 Squadron RAAF
No. 12 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force general purpose, bomber and transport squadron. The squadron was formed in 1939 and saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. From 1941-1943, it mainly conducted maritime patrols off northern Australia...
(A-31 Vengeance dive bombers), No. 72 Wing came under the control of RAAF North Eastern Area Command, and undertook air defence and patrol tasks in and around western New Guinea. Walters was Mentioned in Despatches on 28 October 1944 for "Gallant & distinguished service" in North Eastern Area, the award being promulgated on 9 March 1945. He was promoted to acting Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
in February 1945, and became Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
(AOC) Northern Command, based at Madang
Madang
Madang is the capital of Madang Province and is a town with a population of 27,420 on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. It was first settled by the Germans in the 19th century....
in north-eastern New Guinea. Northern Command had previously been a large mobile strike force known as No. 9 Operational Group
No. 9 Operational Group RAAF
No. 9 Operational Group was a major Royal Australian Air Force unit providing fighter, ground attack and anti-shipping support to the Allies in the South West Pacific theatre during World War II. It was designed to act as a mobile striking force independent of the RAAF's static area commands. As...
, but had evolved into a static area command with its mobile function taken over by No. 10 Operational Group (later First Tactical Air Force
Australian First Tactical Air Force
The Australian First Tactical Air Force was formed on 25 October 1944 by the Royal Australian Air Force . Its purpose was to provide a mobile force of fighter and ground attack aircraft that could support Allied army and naval units fighting the Empire of Japan in the South West Pacific Area...
). Walters directed Northern Command's operations in New Guinea, New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
and Bougainville
Bougainville Island
Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands...
until the end of the war, and represented the RAAF at the Japanese surrender ceremonies held in Wewak
Wewak
Wewak is the capital of the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea. It is located on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea. It is the largest town between Madang and Jayapura. It is the see city of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak....
that September.
Post-war career
Walters was among a small coterie of highly regarded operational commanders, including Air Commodores John McCauleyJohn McCauley (RAAF officer)
Air Marshal Sir John Patrick Joseph McCauley, KBE, CB was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force . He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1954 to 1957. A Duntroon graduate, McCauley spent four years in the Australian Military Forces before transferring to the RAAF in 1924...
and Frederick Scherger
Frederick Scherger
Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Rudolph William Scherger KBE, CB, DSO, AFC was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force...
, earmarked by the Australian Air Board in October 1945 for senior leadership roles in the post-war Air Force. In the short term, however, he reverted to his substantive rank of Group Captain, as the officer corps shrank drastically with demobilisation. In 1946, Walters became Director of Air Staff Plans and Policy at RAAF Headquarters, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the King's Birthday Honours for his "conspicuous service in operations against the Japanese" while in charge of Northern Command during the war. The following year, he attended the Imperial Defence College, London
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
. Raised to Air Commodore, he served as AOC Southern Area from 1948 to 1950, and then as AOC RAAF Overseas Headquarters in London through 1951. In December that year, he was part of the Australian contingent at the Commonwealth Air Forces Conference, where an RAAF presence was sought in the Middle East; this eventually led to No. 78 Wing
No. 78 Wing RAAF
No. 78 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's operational training wing. It is headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, and operates the BAE Hawk 127 lead-in fighter. The wing was formed in 1943 and operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighters in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
being reformed and deployed to RAF Hal Far
RAF Hal Far
The RAF Hal Far airfield in Malta, titled HMS Falcon during the Royal Navy base, was constructed and opened on 1 April 1929, and was used by Royal Navy air crews. It was the first permanent airfield to be built in Malta. It was transferred to the Maltese Government and redeveloped as from January...
, Malta, in July 1952. Although Walters was keen to use the opportunity to acquire the RAAF's first F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
s, political realities led him to negotiate a deal whereby the wing was equipped with leased British Vampire FB.9s
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
.
After completing his tour in London, Walters was posted to Washington, D.C. to head up the Australian Joint Services Staff during 1952–53. He was promoted to acting Air Vice Marshal in October 1952; this rank was made permanent in January 1954, when he succeeded Air Vice Marshal McCauley to become AOC Home Command (later Operational Command and now Air Command
RAAF Air Command
Air Command is the operational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force . It is headed by the Air Commander Australia, whose role is to manage and command the RAAF's Force Element Groups , which contain the operational capability of the Air Force...
). Walters held this post for three years, his tenure witnessing the introduction of the CAC Sabre
CAC Sabre
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Allward, Maurice. F-86 Sabre. London: Ian Allen, 1978. ISBN 0-71100-860-4.* Curtis, Duncan. North American F-86 Sabre. Ramsbury, UK: Crowood, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-358-9....
to operational service in the RAAF, when No. 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAAF
No. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. It was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales.-World War I:...
took delivery of its first machine in March 1956. In the New Years Honours that year, Walters had been appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). In March 1957, he was one of three candidates, along with Air Vice Marshals Fred Scherger and Val Hancock, touted as possible successors to Air Marshal Sir John McCauley as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), the RAAF's senior position. Scherger gained the appointment, and Walters became Air Member for Personnel in October. He served in this position until August 1959, when he was appointed AOC Support Command. When Scherger's term as CAS was due to complete in May 1961, Walters and Hancock were once more put forward to the Minister for Air
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
as potential replacements. "Walters was again unlucky", in the words of RAAF historians Alan Stephens and Keith Isaacs, Hancock's "professional ability, operational experience and personal qualities" being deemed more appropriate for the role. Walters retired from the military on 16 May 1962, after completing his term at Headquarters Support Command. He followed horse racing in private life. Survived by his wife and daughter, Walters died from cardiorenal failure
Cardiorenal syndrome
In medicine, the cardiorenal syndrome is a condition characterized by kidney failure and heart failure. The primarily failing organ may be either the heart or the kidney, and it is often this failing organ that precipitates failure of the other....
in Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Victoria
Heidelberg is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Banyule....
, Melbourne, on 19 October 1968. He was accorded an Air Force funeral and cremated.