26 Facts About Devon Minchin

Devon Minchin was an Australian fighter pilot, entrepreneur, security industry pioneer and author.

Devon Minchin was the youngest of the couple's three children, the others being Helen Patricia and Lester Hugh St Clair.

Devon Minchin left school in 1934 aged 15 and became an office boy at the George Patterson Agency, where he worked for two years.

In 1939 Devon Minchin was sent to Australia to conduct market research for Vicks.

Devon Minchin enlisted at the RAAF office in Erskine St Sydney and was told that he would soon be contacted.

Devon Minchin signed up again in Rockhampton and was sent to No 7 Course RAAF Bradfield Park.

Devon Minchin then went to 22 Central Flying Training School at Thornhill, Bulawayo to train on the Harvard MkI.

In 1942 Devon Minchin returned to Egypt where he converted to the Curtiss P-40 and joined No 450 Squadron RAAF.

Pilot Officer Devon Minchin was 450 Squadron's unofficial entertainment officer, penning poems and songs and leading the troops at the piano or on the ukulele at any given opportunity.

Devon Minchin wrote Marlene's Boyfriend, a parody of the German propaganda song Lili Marlene which became one of the most popular Desert Air Force songs.

Devon Minchin became the lessee of The Grand Albergo dell'Etna and with fellow PO Harry Gregory turned the hotel into a respite for Allied officers.

In late 1943 Devon Minchin was assigned to production aircraft test pilot duties at No 7 Maintenance Unit, RAF Kasfareet.

Devon Minchin tested 19 different operational types of aircraft until he was returned to Australia in late 1944 due to the ongoing effects of malaria.

Devon Minchin's tenure was cut short after only a few months when his wife Susan died of polio on 24 April 1948.

From 1949 to 1952 Devon Minchin was an account executive at Cathay Ltd, a Hong Kong advertising agency.

In 1954 Devon Minchin founded Metropolitan Security Services, which became Australia's largest privately owned security company before it was sold to Mayne Nickless in 1970.

Devon Minchin received a note signed by all the members of the band thanking him for allowing "the finest birds and best boomerang makers into the suites".

In 1969 Devon Minchin was the founding president of Australian Security Industry Association Limited, which became Australia's peak national security industry body.

Devon Minchin developed a cinema complex in Noosa Heads and became foundation chairman of the Noosa District Tourist Association Committee.

Devon Minchin received a Bachelor of Arts from Macquarie University in 1978 and later his attention turned late Roman history.

Devon Minchin completed a trilogy of novels set in 4th century AD Rome and when he was at the age of 91 it was published as Love And The Fall of Rome.

Devon Minchin moved from his Yandina farm to Noosa in 2000.

Devon Minchin wrote The Money Movers, which was published in 1972.

In 1952, Devon Minchin married Betty Bentley at St Jude's Anglican Church, Dural.

Devon Minchin married Margot Brickhill, who was previously married to Paul Brickhill, in 1964.

Devon Minchin's eldest son Nick Minchin was a member of the Australian Senate from 1993 to 2011 and a former cabinet minister in the Howard government.