Wing Commander Charles Learmonth, DFC and Bar, was a well-known flyer in World War II, who was based in Pearce, WA, and involved in the air search for HMAS Sydney. He fought in the skies of New Guinea, flying a twin-engine Boston attack bomber named She's Apples. In January 1944 the then Commanding Officer of No. 22 Squadron, was killed at the age of 26 in a crash 30 kilometres north-west of Rottnest Island. Learmonth Airport was named in his honour.