RAAF Air Command

Air Command
Active 1942–current
Country Australia
Allegiance Australian Defence Force
Branch Royal Australian Air Force
Current location RAAF Glenbrook
Motto(s) 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:

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 peacetime and wartime. 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 & Two Bars, 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

  1. ↑ "RAAF's AOSG becomes Air Warfare Centre". Australian Aviation. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
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