29 September 1998(1998-09-29) (aged 91) Perth, Western Australia
Allegiance
Australia
Service/branch
Australian Army Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service
1925–65
Rank
Air Marshal
Unit
RAAF Command (1942–43) Western Area Command (1943–44)
Commands held
No. 1 BAGS (1940–41) No. 100 Squadron (1945) No. 71 Wing (1945) RAAF College (1947–49) No. 224 Group RAF (1957–59) Operational Command (1959–61) Chief of the Air Staff (1961–65)
Battles/wars
World War II
South West Pacific theatre
Aitape–Wewak campaign
Malayan Emergency Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation Vietnam War
Awards
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Flying Cross
Relations
Lang Hancock (cousin)
Other work
Co-founder, Australia Defence Association
Air Marshal Sir Valston Eldridge Hancock, KBE, CB, DFC (31 May 1907 – 29 September 1998) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1961 to 1965. A graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Hancock transferred from the Army to the RAAF in 1929 and qualified as a pilot. His administrative training at Duntroon saw him mainly occupy staff posts, including Deputy Director of Operations and Intelligence at RAAF Headquarters from 1931 to 1935, and Director of Works and Buildings from 1937 to 1939. During the early years of World WarII, he commanded No.1 Bombing and Gunnery School, and held senior planning and administrative positions. He eventually saw combat in the Aitape–Wewak campaign of the Pacific War during 1945. Flying Bristol Beaufort light bombers, he led first No.100 Squadron, and later No.71 Wing. His actions earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After the war, Hancock became the inaugural commandant of RAAF College. His subsequent positions included Deputy Chief of the Air Staff from 1951 to 1953, Air Member for Personnel from 1953 to 1955, and Air Officer Commanding (AOC) No. 224 Group RAF in Malaya, responsible for all Commonwealth air forces in the region, from 1957 to 1959. Appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1958, he served as AOC RAAF Operational Command from 1959 to 1961, before being promoted to air marshal and commencing his term as Chief of the Air Staff. He was knighted in 1962. In his role as the Air Force's senior officer, Hancock initiated redevelopment of RAAF Base Learmonth in north Western Australia, as part of a chain of forward airfields for the defence of the continent. He also evaluated potential replacements for the RAAF's English Electric Canberra bomber, finding the American "TFX" (later the General Dynamics F-111) to be the most suitable for Australia's needs, though he did not recommend its immediate purchase due to its early stage of development. After retiring from the military in May 1965, Hancock co-founded the Australia Defence Association. He died in 1998, aged 91.
Air Marshal Sir Valston Eldridge Hancock, KBE, CB, DFC (31 May 1907 – 29 September 1998) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)...
father's great-aunt was Emma Withnell, while a cousin was Sir ValstonHancock. Hancock spent his early childhood on his family's station at Ashburton...
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff 1947–1951 Succeeded by Air Vice Marshal ValstonHancock Preceded by Air Vice Marshal George Mills RAF Air Headquarters Malaya...
relationship with Hancock and Wright, with Tonkin going on a tour of Hanwright's mines in the Pilbara guided by Hancock and his cousin ValstonHancock. Tonkin wanted...
between 1954 and 1969, followed by Air Marshals Frederick Scherger, ValstonHancock, and Alister Murdoch. McCauley was raised to Knight Commander of the...
Jones Sir Donald Hardman Sir John McCauley Sir Frederick Scherger Sir ValstonHancock Sir Alister Murdoch Sir Colin Hannah Sir Charles Read Sir James Rowland...
Jones Sir Donald Hardman Sir John McCauley Sir Frederick Scherger Sir ValstonHancock Sir Alister Murdoch Sir Colin Hannah Sir Charles Read Sir James Rowland...
Station Evans Head and was fully operational by December 1941. Sir ValstonHancock was appointed as the Station's first commanding officer, himself playing...
time among a coterie of officers at group captain level, including Val Hancock, Alister Murdoch and Bill Garing, earmarked by the Australian Air Board...
Sir ValstonHancock. He was the last of a quartet of army-trained CASs; from 1954 to 1969 inclusive, every RAAF chief—John McCauley, Scherger, Hancock, and...
Bradley, 80, American politician and police officer, heart attack. ValstonHancock, 91, Australian commander in the Royal Australian Air Force. Gordon...
Jones Sir Donald Hardman Sir John McCauley Sir Frederick Scherger Sir ValstonHancock Sir Alister Murdoch Sir Colin Hannah Sir Charles Read Sir James Rowland...
Jones Sir Donald Hardman Sir John McCauley Sir Frederick Scherger Sir ValstonHancock Sir Alister Murdoch Sir Colin Hannah Sir Charles Read Sir James Rowland...
Jones Sir Donald Hardman Sir John McCauley Sir Frederick Scherger Sir ValstonHancock Sir Alister Murdoch Sir Colin Hannah Sir Charles Read Sir James Rowland...
Jones Sir Donald Hardman Sir John McCauley Sir Frederick Scherger Sir ValstonHancock Sir Alister Murdoch Sir Colin Hannah Sir Charles Read Sir James Rowland...
Jones Sir Donald Hardman Sir John McCauley Sir Frederick Scherger Sir ValstonHancock Sir Alister Murdoch Sir Colin Hannah Sir Charles Read Sir James Rowland...
took over as Air Officer Commanding (AOC) OPCOM from Air Vice Marshal Val Hancock in April. Headlam was promoted to air vice marshal on 29 May. On 17 July...
Commander Australia (1990–92). Brother of General Peter Gration Sir ValstonHancock 1907 1998 Chief of the Air Staff (1961–65), Air Officer Commanding...
Jones Sir Donald Hardman Sir John McCauley Sir Frederick Scherger Sir ValstonHancock Sir Alister Murdoch Sir Colin Hannah Sir Charles Read Sir James Rowland...
recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia and Medal for Gallantry Sir ValstonHancock – Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Australian Air Force Sir Colin Hannah...
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