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Wing Commander Peter Geoffrey LARARD, DSO.

No. O35023. 2 Jul 1933 to 1 Nov 2025. Aged 92.

[3SQN Sabre Pilot, Butterworth, 1964-6.]

AWM Portrait of Wing Commander Peter G. LARARD, DSO.
[Painted 1974 at RAAF HQ Operational Command. Artist Valerie O'NEILL.]

Our member Peter RING writes: “With great sadness in my heart, I advise you of the death of Pete Larard, a worthy friend of many, and a distinguished veteran.

Pete passed away in Lower King, a town of the City of Albany in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, on 1 November 2025. Pete was chosen by the AWM to have his portrait painted as a representative of the RAAF personnel who served in Vietnam as Forward Air Controllers. Pete commanded a USAF Tactical Air Support Squadron.

Pete was a graduate of the RAAF College, in 1954.

**‘Best all-round pilot’ on his Course and winner of the Flying Trophy.
- Pete also swam Butterfly as a member of the record-breaking RAAF inter-service swimming team!**

He went on to be a highly-regarded fighter pilot and fighter squadron commander [C.O. 76 Mirage Squadron].

[Peter’s time as a Sabre jet pilot in 1964-66 with 3SQN is brilliantly evoked in his article about the Indonesian Confrontation.]

He was also a graduate of the [British] RAF College of Air Warfare and the RAAF Staff College. Pete retired early from the RAAF in 1974. [His final posting was as Senior Air Staff Officer at Australia House, London.]

Pete's lifetime love was Jan Larard, a wonderful lady.”

Citation to Distinguished Service Order:

“Wing Commander Larard, as a Forward Air Controller, recently completed an operational tour of duty in Vietnam attached to the Seventh Air Force, USAF.

On the afternoon of April 24, 1969, Wing Commander Larard controlled three separate successful engagements against the enemy, during two of which his aircraft was under sustained ground fire.”

Pete in the cockpit of his USAF O-2 Super Skymaster aircraft, used for Forward Air Control - target-marking and controlling ground-support airstrikes. [Caption from RAAF News Sat 1 Nov 1969:] WGCDR Peter G. Larard, Commander of the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, based at Bien Hoa air base, east of Saigon, was selected "the most outstanding FAC the 31st TFW pilots worked with during the month". It is the first time that a RAAF pilot has received the award.

3 Squadron LIFETIMES