John Quaife grew up in Melbourne and as a kid just loved military aviation. He lived the dream. John spent 28 years with Royal Australian Air Force as a fighter pilot. He is a graduate of the RAAF's 'top gun' training course who went on to become one of Australia's most senior military commanders. After his retirement from full time service, John chaired the panel that considered James Hakewill for the award of a posthumous Victoria Cross. Although no award was possible, the true story of Hakewill, his fellow aviators, and the people on the ground in Orsta, took John to Norway and into his current career as an author.