Blake Pelly

Summary

Blake Raymond Pelly, OBE (31 May 1907 – 16 October 1990) was an Australian air force officer, politician and businessman, who represented the Liberal Party in New South Wales Parliament.

Blake Pelly
Black and white headshot of a man wearing an open-collared shirt
Blake Pelly in 1941
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Wollondilly
In office
23 January 1950 – 19 September 1957
Preceded byJeff Bate
Succeeded byTom Lewis
Personal details
Born (1907-05-31) 31 May 1907 (age 116)
Buckley, Flintshire, Wales
Died16 October 1990(1990-10-16) (aged 83)
Sydney, Australia
Political partyLiberal Party
Alma materEmmanuel College, Cambridge
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceRoyal Australian Air Force
Years of service1937–1946
RankGroup Captain
CommandsNo. 451 Squadron RAAF (1941)
No. 60 Squadron RAAF (1942)
No. 73 Wing RAAF (1943)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsOfficer of the Order of the British Empire
Mentioned in Despatches

Before and during the Second World War Pelly served in the Royal Australian Air Force, rising to the rank of group captain and serving as director of Operations Royal Australian Air Force Headquarters 1945–1946. He was mentioned in despatches on 24 September 1941 and, on 16 June 1944, was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for distinguished service and efficiency in the south-west Pacific area.[1]

Pelly represented the electoral district of Wollondilly from 1950 to 1957.[2]

After retiring Pelly was chairman of directors of Rio Tinto (Australia) Limited, Hammersley Iron Pty Limited, Zinc Corporation Limited, Merchant Bills Corporation; chairman of directors of Unity Life Assurance Limited from 1959, Sun Alliance Insurance Limited from 1972, deputy chairman of Universities Board in 1967, and a member of Higher Education Board in 1976.

References edit

  1. ^ "Commonwealth biplane fighter aces – Blake Pelly". Retrieved 30 March 2008.
  2. ^ "Mr Blake Raymond Pelly". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Wollondilly
1950–1957
Succeeded by