 Malley 's stay increasingly involved him in the fighting in China ; his wife would relate three years of night @-@ time air raids to her friends upon the couple 's return to Australia in 1940 . In May 1938 , he advised the Chief of the Air Staff , Air Vice @-@ Marshal Richard Williams : " there is a first @-@ class war on here , which must eventually affect Australia and its defence schemes " . Williams and other members of the RAAF may , however , have perceived Malley as exaggerating the importance of his role in China , particularly given his apparent delight in its ceremonial aspects . In one letter , he regaled Williams with stories of an inspection tour around the country , declaring : " I ... can just imagine how much you would have enjoyed it – landing on aerodromes that were all polished up for inspection . Being met by provincial dignitaries and lavishly entertained . I had to drink every conceivable Chinese wine that was ever made , and to eat foods unheard of in Australia ! " At any rate , Malley 's reports of Japanese air tactics , and the value his observations might have held for Australia in the event of war in the Pacific , were largely discounted by his home government . 
