Air Commodore W. H. "BULL" Garing, CBE, DFC, DSC (USA) RAAF 1910-2004

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Air Commodore W. H. "BULL" Garing, CBE, DFC, DSC (USA) RAAF 1910-2004

AIRCDRE W. H "Bull" Garing (1910-2004)
AIRCDRE W. H "Bull" Garing (1910-2004)

Air Commodore W. H. "BULL" Garing, CBE, DFC, DSC (USA)

Biographical Summary
It could be argued that the Royal Australian Air Force had three major successes during the war in the Southwest Pacific from 1941 to 1945: the first defending Port Moresby in March/April 1942; the second at Milne Bay in August 1942; and the third in the Bismarck Sea in March 1943. For the latter two actions the RAAF’s commander on the scene was Group Captain William Henry Garing, whose aggressive leadership made a crucial contribution to both victories.
Short and stocky, with a dark complexion and hair, and hazel eyes, Garing was a pugnacious, forceful and canny wartime leader, whose nickname ‘Bull’ accurately described his personality.
Garing was born in Corryong on 26 July 1910, and was educated to intermediate certificate standard at Thougla State College, Corryong Higher Elementary School, and Melbourne Technical School. After 18 months service with the Citizen Air Force he entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in January 1930, transferring from the Army to the Air Force when he started flying training at Point Cook in December 1930.
During the 1930s Garing became the RAAF’s leading specialist in air/sea operations. In fact, while at the School of Air Pilotage and Specialist Navigation School in the UK over the period 1934-35, he qualified for his Air Master Navigation Certificate. By the outbreak of war he had spent several years with the RAAF’s seaplane squadron at Point Cook; and in 1938 he had become the first person in Australia to qualify for a First Class Aircraft Navigator’s license.
Flight Lieutenant Garing was in the United Kingdom in September 1939 with No. 10 Squadron, taking delivery of the RAAF’s new Short Sunderland maritime patrol aircraft, when the war in Europe started. Instead of returning to Australia as planned, No. 10 Squadron stayed in England to fight the Nazis.
In June 1940 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for engaging five German bombers which were attacking an armed merchant cruiser.