Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Wing Commander Bob McIntosh (1929-2019)

Extracted from several documents with permission.

Born in Sydney in  1929, Bob undertook  his secondary education at After secondary education at the Kings School, Parramatta, and work in a stock firm during which he commenced training as a pilot, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1951 aged 22.

He graduated as a Sergeant Pilot in December 1952. By April 1953 he was flying operational missions in Korea with 77 SQN. In Korea he flew Mustangs and Meteors, and on return to Australia took part in trials introducing the Australian-built Avon Sabre.

He was commissioned, became a flying instructor, and in 1962 converted to rotary wing aircraft, after posting to a US Army course. Innovation in Search and Rescue operations led to development of methods for rescuing flood victims. For performing such a role he received a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in 1964. He had further operational service in the Malayan Emergency (1964-65) and in Vietnam (1966-67) with 9 SQN.  He was Mentioned in Dispatches for his significant role in the Long Tan Battle.

He wrote a Flying Instructor’s manual for the “Huey” (UH-1H Iroquois), for which he was decorated with the Air Force Cross (1969). He was promoted to command posts, and retired from the Air Force as a Wing Commander, Acting Group Captain, Commanding Officer of Base Squadron, RAAF Edinburgh.

 An Elder in the Presbyterian Church Bob candidated and then trained for ordination within the Uniting Church at Parkin Wesley Theological College, Adelaide SA. Ordained as a Minister of the Word he spent three years in a rural parish at Bordertown, and retrained in fixed wing aircraft. In 1985 he was appointed to the Frontier Services, Murchison Patrol, at Meekatharra, WA. This is one of the remotest, and hottest, regions of our continent. He was there a “Flying Padre” (in a Cessna 182) for 9 years. He then “retired” to Adelaide, but continued active roles within the Church and Community.

 He has been a Chaplain (since 1997) for the Mitcham Branch of the RAAF Association, a Committee member, Pension and Welfare Officer (from 1998), and since 2009 its President. He has served on the RAAF Association SA Division Council, and is its Vice-President, and President elect.

Bob was a tireless servant of the Royal Australian Air Force Association (RAAFA) SA Division, including service as President of its Mitcham Branch. He has worked as a Pension and Welfare Officer and as an Honorary Chaplain for numerous ceremonies and commemorative services.

Having served in theatres of war in Korea and Vietnam, Bob saw first-hand the effects military service has on those who serve and those who support them. He was a passionate advocate for the need to find solutions other than military conflict to the world’s problems as evidenced in an opinion piece he penned during the centenary of Anzac period titled ‘We must find a way to genuine and lasting peace’. Bob regularly made himself available to speak to community groups to promote understanding of the meaning and importance of military service.

Bob served on South Australia’s Veterans’ Advisory Council for three years from 2014 to 2016 where his common sense and passionate advocacy on behalf of the veteran community was greatly valued.

On 8 July 2015 Bob was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for service to the community, particularly through church and veterans’ organisations.

He passed away in Mary Potter Hospice Adelaide on 3 September 2019 aged 90 years.

Bob was a true gentleman and the consummate professional.

Veterans SA / WCDR Robert Black