Graham Stewart Conning was born in Richmond, Victoria in 1919. He was a furniture salesman and stock keeper at Myer Melbourne, aged 22, and living with his mother in Coburg, when he enlisted to serve in the RAAF on 3 January, 1942 - service no. 410455. Conning had previously completed the Mobilization Attestation Form to serve in the Army, on 3 January 1940. He was released in December 1941 to enlist in the RAAF.

Having been accepted into the RAAF, Conning was soon undertaking training, and was awarded his flying badge on 12 November 1942. He left Melbourne for the United Kingdom on 15 January 1943, where he attended radio school, and qualified as a Wireless Air Gunner on 13 November 1943.

From 5 November 1943 he served in 461 Squadron. He flew 629 hours in a Sunderland aircraft, in United Kingdom and coastal operations.

Conning disembarked at Sydney on 24 July 1945. He was discharged from service in October 1945, at the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

He passed away on 12 February 1975.

A collection of material relating to Conning's World War II service was donated to the Museum by his widow in 1986, together with a collection relating to the World War I service of her uncle Tom Robinson Lydster.

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