Affleck, Arthur Herbert (OW1918)

Arthur was the first pilot to fly for the new Flying Doctor Service.

 He had won a government scholarship to come to Wesley in 1918, aged 14 years and seven months. He started in Form Five A and left in December 1920 from Form Pass Six A (In those days, students were allotted into academic streams rather than simple year levels). His index card states he tried for the Naval Pay Clerkship but failed, instead going into the National Bank. It continues, Later Civil Air Force; in June 1928 had flown 100,000 miles.

Arthur Herbert Affleck (1903-1966), aviator, was born on 3 July 1903 at Brighton, Melbourne, second son of Alfred Stow Affleck, a Victorian-born shipping clerk, and his English wife Alice, née Buckley. Educated at Wesley College, Arthur worked as a bank officer for two years before entering the Royal Australian Air Force in 1923. His wider ambition was for a career in commercial aviation. Selected as one of three civil aviation cadets in November that year, he passed his pilot's course and on 18 July 1925 was discharged from the R.A.A.F. In 1925-26 he flew the route between Melbourne and Hay, New South Wales, for Australian Aerial Services Ltd. He joined Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd in 1927.

From the Australian Dictionary of Biography