MALONE, PETER

AUTHOR PROFILE

Peter Malone fell in love with aviation and aircraft at the age of five when he saw Santa Claus arrive in a Tiger Moth for an RAAF children's Christmas party. When it was time to hand out the presents, his parents couldn't find him: he was still outside on the tarmac admiring the Tiger Moth. The rest of his life has been dominated by aviation in one form or another.

Following a brief career in the RAAF, Peter worked for some 40 years at the Aeronautical Research Laboratories in aerodynamics R&D. It was at this time that he started researching the history of the RAAF and its aircraft and, their camouflage and markings. For a while he shared an office with an ex Spitfire Squadron CO and this kindled his interest in that most beautiful of fighters, the Spitfire.

He has written a number of magazine articles and co-authored several books as well as editing magazines for the Aviation Historical Society of Australia and the International Plastic Modeller's Society. He has also been able to help restorers of vintage and veteran aircraft research historically accurate colour schemes for their aircraft. Currently he is working on a history of the RAAF's Spitfires and their camouflage and markings.