 Neville Patrick McNamara was born on 17 April 1923 in Toogoolawah , Queensland . He was educated at Toogoolawah State School , and by the Christian Brothers in Warwick and at St. Joseph 's Nudgee College . He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) on 12 October 1941 . Following aircrew training , he graduated as a sergeant pilot on 15 October 1942 . He served as an instructor before being posted to the South West Pacific as a fighter pilot with No. 75 Squadron , flying P @-@ 40 Kittyhawks . He gained his commission in 1944 . 
