RAAF Air Command
| Air Command | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942–current |
| Country | Australia |
| Allegiance | Australian Defence Force |
| Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Current location | RAAF Glenbrook |
| Motto | Alert and Ready |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Air Vice Marshal Gavin Turnbull AM (Air Commander Australia) |
|
Air Command is the operational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It is headed by the Air Commander Australia, whose role is to manage and command the RAAF's Force Element Groups (FEGs), which contain the operational capability of the Air Force. Headquarters Air Command is located at RAAF Base Glenbrook.
Air Command consists of the following FEGs:
- Air Lift Group
- Air Combat Group
- Surveillance and Response Group
- Combat Support Group
- Aerospace Operational Support Group
- Air Force Training Group
The Commander is responsible for all operational Air Force tasks, and reports to the Chief of Air Force. The Air Commander raises trains and sustains forces for assignment to operations under the Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS). Similar arrangements exist with Commander Forces Command (Australian Army) and Commander Australian Fleet (Royal Australian Navy).
Air Command has a critical strategic role both in peace time and war time. It works closely with Air Force Training Group (formerly RAAF Training Command) and the Australian Defence Force's Joint Logistics Command in developing and maintaining the nation's defence capabilities.
Appointees
Air Command has undergone a number of changes since its formation in May 1942, both in name and location. The following table lists those Air Force officers who have been appointed to lead the Command and its headquarters in its various incarnations.
Note: The official title of each group of Commanders is listed immediately after the name of the Command.
| Rank | Name | Post- Nominals | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| HQ Eastern Area Command (Air Officers Commanding) | |||
| Air Vice Marshal | Anderson, WilliamWilliam Anderson | CBE, DFC | 1942–1943 |
| Air Commodore | Charlesworth, Alan MoorhouseAlan Moorhouse Charlesworth | CBE, AFC | 1943–1944 |
| Air Commodore | Lukis, Francis William FellowesFrancis William Fellowes Lukis | CBE | 1945–1946 |
| Air Commodore | Lachal, Leon VictorLeon Victor Lachal | CBE | 1946–1947 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Bladin, Francis MassonFrancis Masson Bladin | CBE | 1947–1948 |
| Air Vice Marshal | McCauley, John Patrick JosephJohn Patrick Joseph McCauley | CB, CBE | 1949–1953 |
| HQ Home Command (Air Officers Commanding) | |||
| Air Vice Marshal | McCauley, John Patrick JosephJohn Patrick Joseph McCauley | CB, CBE | 1953–1954 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Walters, Allan LeslieAllan Leslie Walters | CB, CBE, AFC | 1954–1957 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Candy, Charles DouglasCharles Douglas Candy | CB, CBE | 1958–1959 |
| HQ Operational Command (Air Officers Commanding) | |||
| Air Vice Marshal | Hancock, Valston EldridgeValston Eldridge Hancock | CB, CBE, DFC | 1959–1961 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Headlam, FrankFrank Headlam | CB, CBE | 1961–1962 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Murdoch, Alister MurrayAlister Murray Murdoch | CB, CBE | 1962–1965 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Hannah, Colin ThomasColin Thomas Hannah | CB, CBE | 1965–1967 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Hennock, Keith SelwynKeith Selwyn Hennock | CB, CBE | 1967–1969 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Townsend, William EdwinWilliam Edwin Townsend | CB, CBE | 1969–1973 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Eaton, Brian AlexanderBrian Alexander Eaton | CB, CBE, DSO and Bar, DFC | 1973 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Robey, Frederick StephenFrederick Stephen Robey | AO, CBE | 1974–1978 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Adams, John IrwinJohn Irwin Adams | CBE, DFC, AFC | 1978–1980 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Ridgway, Michael JohnMichael John Ridgway | AFC | 1980–1981 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Law, Russell NoelRussell Noel Law | 1981–1984 | |
| Air Vice Marshal | Reynolds, Bernard JohnBernard John Reynolds | AM | 1984–1985 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Radford, Edward ArundelEdward Arundel Radford | AO | 1985–1987 |
| Air Headquarters Australia (Air Commanders Australia) | |||
| Air Vice Marshal | Radford, Edward ArundelEdward Arundel Radford | AO | 1987–1990 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Gration, Ian BarringtonIan Barrington Gration | AO, AFC | 1990–1992 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Beck, Gary John JamesGary John James Beck | AO | 1992–1996 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Nicholson, Peter GervasePeter Gervase Nicholson | AO | 1996–1996 |
| Headquarters Air Command (Air Commanders Australia) | |||
| Air Vice Marshal | Nicholson, Peter GervasePeter Gervase Nicholson | AO | 1996–1998 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Titheridge, Alan WilliamAlan William Titheridge | AM | 1998–1999 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Criss, Peter JohnPeter John Criss | AM, AFC | 1999–2000 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Kindler, John WalterJohn Walter Kindler | AO, AFC | 2000–2003 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Shepherd, Geoffrey DavidGeoffrey David Shepherd | AM | 2003–2005 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Quaife, Alfred JohnAlfred John Quaife | AM | 2005–2007 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Binskin, Mark DonaldMark Donald Binskin | AM | 2007–2008 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Skidmore, Mark AlanMark Alan Skidmore | AM | 2008–2012 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Hupfeld, Melvin Ernest GlanvilleMelvin Ernest Glanville Hupfeld | DSC | 2012–2014 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Turnbull, Gavin AlexanderGavin Alexander Turnbull | AM | 2014 – |
References
- "Air Command". Royal Australian Air Force.
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