 McAloney sufficiently recovered to return to his work in the RAAF , and during the Second World War was primarily involved in engine repair and engineering staff work in Australia . Commissioned as a flying officer in 1942 , he saw service in Dutch New Guinea during late 1944 . He received a permanent commission in the RAAF in 1948 , and was advanced to squadron leader in 1950 . During the Malayan Emergency , he served as technical officer to both No. 90 Wing and No. 1 Squadron , based in Singapore . In 1960 , he was made Officer Commanding Engineering Squadron at the Aircraft Research and Development Unit , and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his efforts in the post . McAloney retired in 1966 with the honorary rank of group captain . In 1971 , the Albert Medal was discontinued and living recipients of the decoration were invited to exchange their medal for the George Cross ; McAloney took up the offer and formally became a recipient of the latter . He died in 1995 at the age of 85 . 
