Arthur William Murphy | |
|---|---|
 Murphy (left) and Wrigley during their pioneering trans-Australia flight, 1919 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Spud" |
| Born | 17 November 1891 Kew, Victoria |
| Died | 21 April 1963 (aged 71) Essendon, Victoria |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/ | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1914–46 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Unit | No. 1 Squadron AFC (1916–18) No. 3 Squadron (1925–26) |
| Commands held | No. 1 Aircraft Depot (1938–40) No. 4 Maintenance Group (1942–45) |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Air Force Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
Air Commodore Arthur William Murphy, DFC, AFC, FRAeS (17 November 1891 – 21 April 1963) was a senior engineer and aviator in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He accompanied Henry Wrigley on the first trans-Australia flight from Melbourne to Darwin in 1919, a feat that earned both men the Air Force Cross. Murphy later played a leading role in military aircraft maintenance and production.
A veteran of World War I, Murphy served first as a mechanic and then as a pilot with the Australian Flying Corps. Based in the Middle East, he flew with No. 1 Squadron and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Murphy was the first airman on the RAAF's strength when it formed in 1921, and rose to the rank of temporary air commodore during World War II, commanding No. 1 Aircraft Depot and, later, No. 4 Maintenance Group. He was also the RAAF's first Inspector of Air Accidents. A fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Murphy retired from the military in 1946, and died in 1963 aged seventy-one.