Tony Gaze, son of Irvine Owen Gaze, a Ross Sea Party participant and World War I aviator , had raced cars in his native Australia as early as the 1930s, and was one of the top Australian aviators in World War II . He served in the RAF and was the first Allied aviator to land in France on D-Day 1944. He also succeeded as the first Australian to shoot down a jet fighter, a Messerschmitt Me 262 , in air combat . For this he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was the only Australian to receive this award three times during World War II.
After the war, Gaze resumed racing. He came to the UK and bought an Alta which he soon replaced with an HWM . In 1952 he reported this in four world championship races. However, he only started three races because he could not qualify at the Italian Grand Prix . He was the first Australian to take part in a race for the Formula 1 World Championship.
After some success in sports car races, Gaze returned to Australia in 1956 and became a pioneer of modern motorsport in his home country. In 2006 he was awarded the Order of Australia medal for his services .
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