26 August 1894 to Remembrance
Day 1955.
Aged 61 years
One of Australia's most brilliant airmen, Arthur COBBY was born in Prahran, Victoria on 26 August 1894 and was a bank clerk on enlistment in the AIF on 23 December 1916. Cobby applied for, and received, a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Australian Flying Corps (AFC). He had previously gained a commission in the militia. Cobby embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, with 'A' Flight, 4 Squadron (4AFC) on 17 January 1917 aboard RMS Omrah.
Arriving at Plymouth on 27 March, Cobby was sent to Castle Bromwich for training. After learning to fly Sopwith Camels he arrived in France with 4AFC on 18 December. He shot down his first enemy aircraft on 3 February and by September had shot down 29 aircraft and 13 balloons, becoming the highest scoring ace in the Australian Flying Corps. By the end of the war, Cobby had been awarded the Distinguished Service Order and DFC with two bars, and was Mentioned in Despatches.
He was posted to England as an instructor before returning to Australia in 1919. He was discharged from the AIF on 24 July.
On 31 March 1921, Cobby became a foundation member of the newly formed Royal Australian Air Force. In the years 1930-31 Harry was Commanding Officer of No.3 Squadron, and also commanded the Richmond Base. He was promoted Wing Commander on 1 May 1933 but left the RAAF on 6 May 1935 and became a member of the Civil Aviation Board and its controller of operations in March 1936.
On the outbreak of the Second World War Cobby rejoined the RAAF and was promoted to Group Captain then to Air Commodore. He served in a number of capacities including Air Officer Commanding Headquarters North-Eastern Area.
George Medal
On 7 September 1943 Cobby distinguished himself by rescuing survivors of a crashed Catalina flying boat, and was awarded the George Medal for his actions.
In April 1945, as Air Officer Commanding, 1st Tactical Air Force on Morotai, Cobby was presented with the resignations of several high ranking personnel (including distinguished ex-3SQN aces Woof ARTHUR and Bob GIBBES) who were annoyed at flying dangerous operations against what they considered 'senseless unimportant ground targets'. Known as the 'Morotai Mutiny', the episode resulted in Cobby being relieved of his command on 10 May.
On 30 November he was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire for 'Most distinguished service and devotion - NORTH EASTERN area.' On 28 May 1948 Cobby was presented with the United States of America Medal of Freedom with Bronze Palm, for meritorious wartime service.
Post war, Cobby resumed his career in Civil Aviation and was appointed Regional Director NSW, before becoming Director of Flying Operations. He died suddenly on 11 November 1955 in Heidelberg Repatriation General Hospital and was accorded a funeral with full military honours at St Mary's Church of England, Caulfield, VIC.
Text from Australian War Memorial and TROVE Newspaper Archive.