 Air Marshal Sir Valston Eldridge ( Val ) Hancock , KBE , CB , DFC ( 31 May 1907 – 29 September 1998 ) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) . He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1961 to 1965 . A graduate of the Royal Military College , Duntroon , Hancock transferred to the RAAF in 1929 and qualified as a pilot . His administrative training at Duntroon saw him primarily occupy staff posts , including Deputy Director of Operations and Intelligence at RAAF Headquarters from 1931 to 1935 , and Director of Works and Buildings from 1937 to 1939 . During the early years of World War II , he commanded No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School , and held senior planning and administrative positions . He eventually saw combat in the Aitape – Wewak campaign of the Pacific War during 1945 . Flying Bristol Beaufort light bombers , he led first No. 100 Squadron , and later No. 71 Wing . His actions earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross . 
