Keith "Bluey" Truscott was born on 17 May 1916 at Prahran, Melbourne. He proved to be both a good student and keen sportsman, playing Australian Rules for the Melbourne Football Club's premiership team in 1939. A popular sporting figure, Keith left his job as an accountant in 1940 to join the RAAF. He was not a natural pilot and almost failed his course. His position as something of a public figure afforded Truscott a chance to continue flying and he eventually earned his wings despite becoming known for his poor landings.
He trained as a pilot in Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme and, commissioned in February 1941, went to England as a foundation member of No. 452 Squadron RAAF, which between August and November 1941 was the top-scoring fighter squadron in Britain.
Keith soon established his personal reputation, destroying up to 16 enemy aircraft; he was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was never regarded as a great flyer, but he was aggressive and accurate with his shooting. Stories of his exploits, most of them over German-occupied France, were read widely in Australia and he became a national hero. In 1942 he was posted back to Australia, where fans forgave him for his loss of form and playing skill when he took part in a special return football game.
In Australia, Keith joined No. 76 Squadron at Bankstown. Moving from his favourite aircraft, the Spitfire, Truscott now flew P-40 Kittyhawks. Before leaving Australia, he played a last game for the Melbourne Football Club, but lacking match fitness, was unable to keep up with the play and found himself exhausted. He had received a rousing public welcome and kicked a goal, much to the fans' delight, but when he was asked whether he would play again, he replied that it was no longer for him. It was, he said, "too dangerous."
In mid-1942 he took part in the desperate fighting, in appalling conditions, at Milne Bay, in Papua, and was promoted to command the squadron, the previous leader having been killed in action. Keith evacuated his aircraft to Port Moresby amidst uncertainty about whether the airfields at Milne Bay could be held. His squadron served throughout the Milne Bay battle in constant rain, heavy mist, and low clouds. The mountainous terrain, slippery runways, and heavy anti-aircraft fire added to the danger but he survived and continued to command the squadron when it was transferred to Darwin.
In January 1943, in the defence of Darwin, he shot down an enemy bomber. His tally rose to 16 enemy aircraft destroyed along with three probables and three damaged. In February 1943 the squadron moved to a quieter posting in Western Australia. Keith was on a training flight over the Exmouth Gulf off the Western Australian coastline on 28 March 1943 when he made a mock attack on a low-flying Catalina whilst flying a Kittyhawk fighter. Misjudging his height over the glassy water, he crashed into the sea and was killed.
Keith "Bluey" Truscott was the RAAF's second-highest-scoring ace of the Second World War after Clive "Killer" Caldwell. Each year the Melbourne Football Club remembers him when it awards the Keith "Bluey" Truscott Medal for the best and fairest player.
