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Air Vice Marshal William Dowling (Bill) Bostock, (5 February 1892 – 28 April 1968) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). During World War II he led RAAF Command, the Air Force's main operational formation, with responsibility for the defence of Australia and air offensives against Japanese targets in the South West Pacific Area. His achievements in the role earned him the Distinguished Service Order and the American Medal of Freedom. General Douglas MacArthur described him as "one of the world's most successful airmen". A veteran of World War I, Bostock first saw combat as a soldier in the Australian Imperial Force at Gallipoli, then as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps on the Western Front, where he earned the Belgian Croix de guerre. He joined the newly formed RAAF in 1921 and by 1941 had risen to become its third most senior officer, serving as Director of Training from 1930 to 1931, commanding officer of No. 3 Squadron from 1931 to 1936, and Director of Operations and Intelligence from 1938 to 1939. The Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at the outbreak of World War II, Bostock was considered a leading candidate for the position of Chief of the Air Staff in 1942 but was passed over in favour of Air Commodore George Jones, a friend of twenty years. Appointed Air Officer Commanding RAAF Command soon after, Bostock became involved in a bitter and long-running dispute with Jones over control of the Air Force in the South West Pacific. Following his retirement from the RAAF in 1946, he became a journalist and later a Federal Member of Parliament. ==Early life and World War I== Bostock was born in Surry Hills, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, to an English father, also named William, and a Spanish mother, Mary. He was educated at The School, Mount Victoria, in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, where he completed his junior certificate.〔Garrison, "Bostock, William Dowling (1892–1968)"〕〔Stephens and Isaacs, ''High Fliers'', pp. 50–53〕 The family later moved to Burwood, in Sydney's Inner West. After leaving school Bostock was employed as an apprentice with the Marconi Company for two-and-a-half years,〔(AIF personnel file, p. 1 ) at National Archives of Australia. Retrieved on 4 February 2008.〕 and spent time at sea as a wireless operator.〔 In November 1914, Bostock joined the 2nd Signal Troop of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) as a sapper.〔〔(First World War Embarkation Roll: William Dowling Bostock ) at Australian War Memorial. Retrieved on 18 December 2008.〕 He landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, serving there until August, when he was evacuated suffering from dysentery.〔 He returned to active duty in January 1916, and was made lance corporal the following month.〔AIF personnel file, p. 4 at National Archives of Australia. Retrieved on 4 February 2008.〕 Promoted to sergeant, Bostock was posted to Egypt with the ANZAC Mounted Division in April 1916, and saw action against Turkish forces in the Sinai Peninsula.〔Dennis et al., ''The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History'', pp. 116–117〕 Bostock transferred from the AIF to the Royal Flying Corps Special Reserve on 18 February 1917, and was commissioned as a probationary second lieutenant. He was posted to No. 48 Squadron in August, following pilot training in Egypt and England.〔〔 Bostock fought on the Western Front and was awarded the Belgian Croix de guerre.〔 He was invalided back to Britain in March 1918, after which he transferred to the newly created Royal Air Force (RAF).〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「William Bostock」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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