O19609 Wing Commander - JAMES WALLACE GARLAND BSc (m) psc, qfi - 28 Apr 1942 - 26 Aug 2023

Age 81 years
Courses
No 13 RAAF ACADEMY Course 1960-1063
No 50 Pilots Course 23 Mar - 28 Aug 1964
No 22 Sabre Course 7 Sep 1665
No 46 Flying Instructors Course 11 May 1970

The President, Committee and members of the Fighter Squadrons Branch regret to advise of the passing of our fine friend and colleague, Jim Garland, who quietly passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning 26 August.

Jim Garland joined the Air Force in January 1960 and left in June 1979 at the rank of Wing Commander.

He came from Nambour to join the last RAAF College course, No 13 Course, as it transitioned to RAAF Academy in 1961. He was one of eight eligible cadets undertaking a double-major physics degree at Melbourne University in the days before the university course was further developed by the university to be completed at Point Cook.

Jim proved to be highly intelligent and a natural leader; was captain of the Academy Rugy and Basketball teams; and was made senior cadet in his fourth year. On completion of the Academy course, Jim won the Sword of Honour on graduation and went on to complete his basic and advanced flying courses to be posted to Williamtown to complete the Operational Conversion course on Sabre jets. He was also awarded the Academy Flying Trophy post-graduation as flying training on Vampire jets was then completed as a junior officer.

He was posted to 78 Wing in Butterworth, newly married and accompanied by Joy.

He operated with No 3 Squadron in Butterworth and on deployment to Ubon, Thailand before being posted to 82 Wing, Amberley. He undertook the conversion to Canberra aircraft and posting to Vietnam in 1967 where he served for six months. He was then selected for F-111C conversion in the US and completed that conversion course, but problems with that aircraft delayed Air Force acceptance for a number of years and Jim never got to fly the aircraft in service in Australia.

On return from the US F-111C detachment, Jim completed the Flying Instructors Course at Sale and was posted to No 2 Flying Training School at Pearce WA where he instructed for three and a half years. He had a number of staff postings, including a detachment to Tengah where he was on the HQ staff of ANZUK. On return to Australia and after undertaking the Army Staff Course at Queenscliffe, Jim served on the Joint Service Staff College as an instructor. On promotion to Wing Commander, he concluded his career in the Department of Defence working in Force Development and Analysis Division.

At near the twenty-year point, Jim, who only ever wanted to fly, decided to leave the Service and purchased a macadamia farm in the Northern Rivers District at Nambucca. He later moved to live on Norfolk Island where he remained for 20 years. He was thrice married and had three children from his first marriage, Simone, Christine and Anthony.

Postings:

18 JAN 60 - RAAF Academy

08 JUL 63 - No1 Basic Flight Training School

23 FEB 64 - No1 Aircrew Flying Training School

07 SEP 64 - No 81 Wing

07 SEP 64 - No 2 Operational Conversion Unit

21 FEB 65 - No 78 Wing butterworth

17 JUN 66 - No 79 Squadron Served in 79SQN (Sabres,Thailand)

11 AUG 66 - No 3 Squadron Served in 3SQN (Sabres,Butterworth,Borneo,Singapore)

29 APR 68 - No 82 Wing

31 AUG 70 - No 2 Flying Instructors School (Macchi, Instructing, Pearce)

21 NOV 73 - RAAF Support Unit Tengah

03 JAN 75 - Base Squadron Laverton

18 DEC 78 - RAAF Support Unit Canberra

22 JUN 79 - Base Squadron Fairbairn

Honours and Awards:

Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 with Clasps VIETNAM and MALAYSIA

Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with Clasp THAILAND

Defence Force Service Medal

National Medal

Australian Defence Medal

Pingat Jasa Malaysia

Returned from Active Service Badge

Funeral Arrangements

Jim's funeral will be held in his home town of Nambour.

The funeral has been arranged for:

Friday 8th September 2023,

11am Gregson & Weight 34 National Park Road

NAMBOUR Qld