Gunner was a remarkable male kelpie dog famous for his extraordinary ability to warn Allied air force personnel of approaching Japanese aircraft during World War II in Darwin, Australia. Found as an injured six-month-old stray after the first air raid on February 19, 1942, he was adopted by Leading Aircraftman Percy Westcott and officially "enlisted" in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Gunner possessed acute hearing that allowed him to differentiate between Allied and Japanese planes, becoming agitated and whimpering up to 20 minutes before rudimentary radar systems could detect the enemy. His consistent reliability was so profound that Wing Commander Tich McFarlane authorized air raid warnings to be sounded based solely on Gunner's alerts. Fully integrated into air force life, Gunner became an integral part of No. 2 Squadron, sharing daily routines and even flying with pilots during practice. Gunner's unique contribution stands as a testament to the remarkable bond between humans and animals during wartime.