Roy Goon

Roy Francis Goon (13 September 1913 – 15 November 1999) was an Australian World War II fighter pilot. Goon held Commercial pilot licence No. 511 and was originally an instructor with Royal Victorian Aero Club (RVAC) at Essendon Airport, then later at Moorabbin, Wangaratta, Benalla, Albury, Corowa, Shepparton, Mildura and Swan Hill. Goon was also held Aircraft Engineer's Licence C and D grades.

Goon's military career began when in 1935 in a Boeing P-26 Peashooter fighter with Chiang Kai-shek's forces in the Second Sino-Japanese War alongside Garnet Malley, and was credited with three kills with the Flying Tigers.

Goon was one of a select group of civilian instructors teaching Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel to fly. However, Goon had difficulty enlisting, as despite being born in Australia, his Chinese heritage conflicted with the RAAF decree that "all candidates of the Empire Air Training Scheme must be British subjects of pure European descent and also sons of parents both of whom are ... British subjects". Goon was eventually able to enlist via support from fellow RVAC member and then Minister for Air, the Hon. James Fairbairn. Goon subsequently enlisted as a Pilot Officer in July, 1940 and flew a variety of aircraft including DH 60, DH82, Avro Cadet Trainers, Miles Falcon, Oxford, Wirraway, Bell P-39 Aircobra, Curtis P40E, Waco C & D, Boeing P26A, Stinson Reliant, Kittyhawk and CAC Boomerang. Goon was promoted to Squadron Leader of No. 83 Squadron RAAF in August, 1943.

In 1945 Roy was Mentioned in Dispatches with his Citation noting: "'Squadron Leader Goon was posted to command No. 83 I/F Squadron which moved to the North Western area in January 1944. No. 83 Squadron was responsible for the protection of convoys and the shipping route from Horn Island to Darwin and the base at Gove. These shipping patrols were particularly arduous. They necessitated long flights over the seas in single engine aircraft in all weathers. Squadron Leader Goon displayed conspicuous leadership and devotion to duty and was at all times an inspiration to all personnel under his Command'."

After the war with 5,000 hours in the log book, he continued his flying career in general aviation and was also operating the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia service for Whyalla. In 1958 he became a Test Pilot with the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, particularly on the CAC Ceres crop dusting aircraft and also CAC Wirraway conversions.

Goon was still with RVAC in the late 1960s in the advanced training live-in college, training Qantas and TAA cadets. The RVAC estimated that Goon trained over 800 pilots in peace and in war. One of his students was RAAF fighter ace, "Bluey" Truscott DFC & Bar. Roy Goon was also an outstanding aerobatic pilot and received Life Membership of the Australian Aerobatic Club.

Roy Goon's contribution to Australia's war effort is acknowledged in the Harvest of Endurance, a 50-metre-long scroll that represents two centuries of Chinese contact with, and emigration to, Australia.