Vale: Lieutenant Malcolm McGregor (Blacky) Barratt (EX) (P) RAN (Rtd).

Malcolm died on Thursday 7th May 2026 in Turramurra NSW. He was born in South Australia on September 25, 1931, and educated at St Peters College in Adelaide. After completing secondary school, he was employed for a time in the private sector before joining the RAN. He entered as a Recruit Naval Airman (Aircrew) in April 1953 as a member of NAAC Class 8 which then trained in the RAAF as part of RAAF Class 14. As is the custom in the Navy, he, along with other recruits, received a nickname. His was Blacky and he was affectionally known as Blacky throughout his naval career.

 In those days flying training was carried out on Tiger Moths and Wirraways at Archerfield (IFTS), Uranquinty (BFTS) and Point Cook (AFTS). Blacky did very well during his flying training and graduated from Point Cook as the most proficient pilot on course.

Following graduation NAAC 8 members did the obligatory “Knife and Fork” course here at home before heading off to the UK by sea for Operational Flying School (OFS). They were the last group to go to the UK, and subsequent courses undertook that training at home. After passage back to Australia (also by sea) they joined Squadrons, Blackie to 816 (Gannets) and he embarked on a number of occasions for deployments to the Far East Strategic Reserve (FESR) and operations in ANZ waters. During his career he served in 816, 724/725 and 851 squadrons flying Gannets, Fireflies, Sea Furies and Dakotas.

At the end of his 7-year short service commission in March 1960 he left the RAN and joined Qantas to commence a new career as an airline pilot. His initial training was carried out on the Lockheed Constellation (L 1049), and he progressed through the airline system gaining command on the Boeing 707 and then the Boeing 747. During his time with Qantas he had two overseas postings, one to the UK and another to Mexico. When he retired from Qantas, he was a Senior Check Captain on the Boeing 747 series of aircraft with over 20,000 hours in his logbook.

He is survived by Margie, his wife of 68 years, two sons, Stephen and Craig, their wives and five grandchildren. One grandson is an airline pilot in the USA.

The family has announced that there will be no funeral at this time but that a service celebrating his life will be conducted later in the year.

(With thanks to Jerry O’Day for this obituary).