List of Royal Australian Air Force air marshals
The following is a list of Australians who have attained air marshal rank within the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF); that is, service personnel who have held the rank of air chief marshal (four-star rank), air marshal (three-star rank) or air vice marshal (two-star rank). The Royal Australian Air Force was established in 1921 as a separate branch of the Australian military forces. The service was modelled after the Royal Air Force—formed three years earlier—and adopted the same ranking system.[1][2][3] Richard Williams, regarded as the "father" of the Royal Australian Air Force, was the service's first member to obtain air-officer rank on being promoted to air commodore (one-star rank) in 1927; he went on to become the first air vice marshal (1935) and air marshal (1940).[4][5] In 1965, Sir Frederick Scherger became the first officer to be advanced to air chief marshal, one of only four members of the Royal Australian Air Force to obtain this rank as of June 2014.[6] A further nineteen individuals have reached air marshal in the RAAF and 123 air vice marshal; seven officers have retired with the hononary rank of air vice marshal.[7][8]
Air chief marshals
This along with the * (asterisk) indicates that the air chief marshal is still a serving member of the RAAF.
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- A dash (—) in the "Died" column indicates that the person is still living.
The rank of air chief marshal is the most senior rank within the Royal Australian Air Force to which, excluding ceremonial appointments, any officer has ever been promoted. Only the five-star rank of Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force is higher, but it has only been held in a ceremonial capacity. As there are currently no appointments in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at the five-star level, there is no prospect of a RAAF officer achieving the rank in a professional (i.e. non-ceremonial) capacity. Additionally, Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force is generally considered to be a marshal rank as opposed to an air marshal rank and so the only two individuals ever to hold the rank, King George VI and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, are not listed in a separate section. With the current structure of the ADF, the rank of air chief marshal is only held when an officer of the RAAF is appointed as Chief of the Defence Force. As of June 2014, only four officers have obtained the rank of air chief marshal in the RAAF, the first being Sir Frederick Scherger in 1965 who was also the first non-Army officer in the Australian military to reach four-star rank. Mark Binskin is the recently promoted of the four, having been advanced to air chief marshal in June 2014.[6][9]
Air chief marshals of the Royal Australian Air Force are as follows:[10]
| Name | Born | Died | Senior command(s) and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Binskin* | 1960 |
—
|
Chief of the Defence Force (2014–), Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2011–14), Chief of Air Force (2008–11), Air Commander Australia (2007–08) |
| Sir Angus Houston | 1947 |
—
|
Chief of the Defence Force (2005–11), Chief of Air Force (2001–05) |
| Sir Neville McNamara | 1923 | 2014 | Chief of the Defence Force Staff (1982–84), Chief of the Air Staff (1979–82), Commander, RAAF Forces Vietnam (1971–72) |
| Sir Frederick Scherger | 1904 | 1984 | Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (1961–66), Chief of the Air Staff (1957–61) |
Air marshals
This along with the * (asterisk) indicates that the air marshal is still a serving member of the RAAF.
<templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
- A dash (—) in the "Died" column indicates that the person is still living.
Air marshal is the highest permanent rank in the Royal Australian Air Force. The rank of air marshal is always held by the Chief of Air Force, though is also held when a RAAF officer is appointed as Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Chief of Joint Operations or Chief of Capability Development Group within the Department of Defence. Richard Williams was the officer to attain the rank of air marshal in the RAAF on promotion in 1940.[11] Regarded as the 'father' of the Royal Australian Air Force, Williams was its first and longest serving Chief, being appointed to the post during three different periods and serving for a total of thirteen years.[4][5] The current Chief of Air Force, Leo Davies, is the most recent officer to obtain the rank of air marshal on promotion in July 2015.[12]
Air marshals of the Royal Australian Air Force are as follows:[13]
| Name | Born | Died | Senior command(s) and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geoff Brown | 1958 |
—
|
Chief of Air Force (2011–15), Deputy Chief of Air Force (2008–11) |
| Leo Davies* | 1960 |
—
|
Chief of Air Force (2015–), Deputy Chief of the Air Force (2012–15) |
| David Evans | 1925 |
—
|
Chief of the Air Staff (1982–85) |
| Les Fisher | 1941 |
—
|
Chief of Air Force (1994–98) |
| Ray Funnell | 1935 |
—
|
Chief of the Air Staff (1987–92), Vice Chief of the Defence Force (1986–87) |
| Barry Gration | 1936 |
—
|
Chief of Air Force (1992–94), Air Commander Australia (1990–92). Brother of General Peter Gration |
| Sir Valston Hancock | 1907 | 1998 | Chief of the Air Staff (1961–65), Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1959–61) |
| Sir Colin Hannah | 1914 | 1978 | Governor of Queensland (1972–77), Chief of the Air Staff (1970–72), Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1965–67) |
| John Harvey | 1954 |
—
|
Chief of Capability Development Group (2010–12), Program Manager, New Air Combat Capability (2006–10) |
| Sir George Jones | 1896 | 1992 | Director of Coordination, Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (1952–57), Chief of the Air Staff (1942–52) |
| Sir John McCauley | 1899 | 1989 | Chief of the Air Staff (1954–57), Air Officer Commanding Home Command (1949–54) |
| Errol McCormack | 1941 |
—
|
Chief of Air Force (1998–01) |
| Sir Alister Murdoch | 1912 | 1984 | Chief of the Air Staff (1965–69), Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1962–65) |
| John Newham | 1930 |
—
|
Chief of the Air Staff (1985–87) |
| Sir Charles Read | 1918 | 2014 | Chief of the Air Staff (1972–75) |
| Douglas Riding | 1943 |
—
|
Vice Chief of the Defence Force (1998–00) |
| Sir James Rowland | 1922 | 1999 | Governor of New South Wales (1981–89), Chief of the Air Staff (1975–79) |
| Geoff Shepherd | 1952 |
—
|
Chief of Air Force (2005–08), Air Commander Australia (2003–05) |
| Sir Richard Williams | 1890 | 1980 | Director-General of Civil Aviation (1946–55), Air Officer Commanding Overseas Headquarters (1941–42), Chief of the Air Staff (1922; 1925–32; 1934–39) |
Air vice marshals
This along with the * (asterisk) indicates that the air vice marshal is still a serving member of the RAAF.
This along with the + (plus) indicates that the officer retired with the hononary rank of air vice marshal.
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- A dash (—) in the "Died" column indicates that the person is still living.
The first Royal Australian Air Force air vice marshal was Richard Williams in 1935;[4] he was followed by Stanley Goble—Williams' successor all three times he held the position of Chief of the Air Staff—two years later.[14] Frank McNamara, the first Australian aviator to be decorated with the Victoria Cross, also resides among the ranks of RAAF air vice marshals. McNamara was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1917 during the First World War while serving with the Australian Flying Corps, the Australian Army's air branch and predecessor of the RAAF; he was made an air vice marshal in 1942.[3][15] As of December 2015, three women have reached air vice marshal rank: Julie Hammer, the first female to obtain one-star rank in the ADF on promotion to air commodore in 1999, was the first to achieve two-star rank when advanced to air vice marshal in 2003;[16][17] Margaret Staib was promoted in 2010 on appointment as Commander Joint Logistics;[18] while Tracy Smart made air vice marshal on appointment as Commander Joint Health in 2015.
Air vice marshals of the Royal Australian Air Force are as follows:[19][20]
| Name | Born | Died | Senior command(s) and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Acton | 1902 | 1971 | Air Member for Supply and Equipment (1956–60) |
| John Adams | 1922 | 1990 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1978–80) |
| William Anderson+ | 1891 | 1975 | Air Officer Commanding Eastern Area (1942–43), Air Officer Commanding Central Area (1940–41), Chief of the Air Staff (1940) |
| Tony Austin | 1953 |
—
|
Head Defence Health Services (2005–08), Director-General Defence Health Services (2002–05) |
| Frederick Barnes | 1924 |
—
|
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1979–81) |
| Hugh Bartholomeusz* | 1953 |
—
|
Surgeon General Australian Defence Force Reserves (2011–) |
| Gary Beck | 1942 |
—
|
Commandant, Australian Defence Force Academy (1996–97), Air Commander Australia (1992–96) |
| John Blackburn | 1956 |
—
|
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (2005–08) |
| Frank Bladin | 1898 | 1978 | Air Officer Commanding Eastern Area (1947–48), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1944–46), Air Officer Commanding North-Western Area (1942–43) |
| Richard Bomball | 1937 |
—
|
Commandant, Australian Defence Force Academy (1990–93) |
| William Bostock | 1892 | 1968 | Federal Member for Indi (1949–58), Air Officer Commanding RAAF Command (1942–45), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1939–42) |
| Richard Bradford | 1936 | 2001 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1987–90) |
| Douglas Cameron | 1930 |
—
|
Director-General Policy and Plans (1981–84) |
| Douglas Candy | 1912 | 1985 | Air Officer Commanding Home Command (1958–59), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1956–58) |
| Ernest Carroll | 1925 | 2010 | Chief of Supply (1980–82) |
| Alan Charlesworth+ | 1903 | 1978 | Air Officer Commanding Overseas Headquarters (1954–55), Air Officer Commanding North-Western Area (1944–46), Air Officer Commanding Eastern Area (1943–44) |
| Kerry Clarke | 1948 |
—
|
Head, Capability Systems Division (2002–05) |
| Colin Cleary | 1913 | 1995 | Air Member for Supply and Equipment (1968–73) |
| Adrian Cole+ | 1895 | 1966 | Air Member for Personnel (1944–45), Air Officer Commanding North-Western Area (1943–44), Air Officer Commanding Southern Area (1940–41) |
| Billie Collings | 1932 |
—
|
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1985–87) |
| William Collins | 1939 |
—
|
Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command (1990–93) |
| Lyndon Crompton | 1922 | 2004 | Chief of Air Force Technical Services (1975–1979) |
| Raymond Conroy | 1947 |
—
|
Head Aerospace Systems Division (1990–91) |
| John Cornish | 1922 |
—
|
Chief of Air Force Materiel (1975–79) |
| Franklin Cox | 1941 |
—
|
Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Personnel) (1994–97) |
| Denis Creal | 1903 | 1993 | Air Member for Supply and Equipment (1960–64) |
| Peter Criss | 1949 |
—
|
Air Commander Australia (1999–00) |
| Edward Daley | 1901 | 1985 | Director-General RAAF Medical Services (1945–61), Director Medical Services (1943–45) |
| Chris Deeble* | 1957 |
—
|
Program Manager for the Joint Strike Fighter Division (2014–), Program Manager, Airborne Early Warning and Control (2006–14) |
| Joseph Dietz | 1929 | 1985 | Chief of Air Force Technical Services (1981–85) |
| Desmond Douglas | 1917 | 1980 | Australian Defence Representative in Washington D.C. (1970–74) |
| David Dunlop | 1949 |
—
|
Director-General Defence Force Cadets (2003–05), Director-General Reserves (2002–03) |
| Brian Eaton | 1916 | 1982 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1973), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1966–67) |
| Brenton Espeland | 1948 |
—
|
Advisor to Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games Coordination Task Force (1999–01), Deputy Chief of Air Force (1998–99), Air Officer Commanding Training Command (1995–98) |
| Greg Evans | 1957 |
—
|
Deputy Chief of Joint Operations (2008–09), Commander Joint Task Force 633 (2004–05) |
| James Flemming | 1926 |
—
|
Director, Australian War Memorial (1982–87) |
| Roy Frost | 1930 | 2001 | Chief of Air Force Materiel (1982–83) |
| William Gibson+ | 1915 | 1977 | Commander, RAAF Forces Vietnam (1967–68) |
| Stanley Goble | 1891 | 1948 | Chief of the Air Staff (1922–25; 1932–34; 1939–40) |
| Leigh Gordon* | 19?? |
—
|
Head Aerospace Systems (2013–) |
| Brian Graf | 1937 |
—
|
Director-General Technical Plans (1987–88) |
| Norman Gray | 1952 |
—
|
Chief Executive Officer, Defence Materiel Organisation (2004–05) |
| Julie Hammer | 1955 |
—
|
National President, Engineers Australia (2007–08), Commandant, Australian Defence Force Academy (2001–03). First female to be promoted air commodore and air vice marshal in RAAF; first female promoted to two-star rank in ADF. |
| Neil Hart* | 1963 |
—
|
Head Joint Capability Coordination (2012–), Deputy Chief of Air Force (2011) |
| Geoffrey Hartnell | 1916 | 1981 | Director Joint Service Plans (1966–68) |
| Frank Headlam | 1914 | 1976 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1965–66) |
| Alan Heggen | 1932 |
—
|
Chief of Logistics Development (1988–89) |
| Michael Helsham | 1921 | 2002 | Judge Advocate-General RAAF (1969–84) |
| William Hely | 1909 | 1970 | Air Officer Commanding Training Command (1956–57), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1953–55), Air Officer Commanding Western Area (1951–53) |
| William Henman* |
—
|
—
|
Commander Integrated Area Defence System, Malaysia (2014–) |
| Keith Hennock | 1918 | 1999 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1967–69) |
| Joe Hewitt | 1901 | 1985 | No. 9 Operational Group RAAF (1943) |
| Ernest Hey | 1912 | 2006 | Air Member for Technical Services (1960–72) |
| Colin Hingston | 1949 |
—
|
Head Business Information Systems (2000–02) |
| Leslie Holten | 1916 | 2006 | Air Member for Supply and Equipment (1973–75) |
| Henry Hughes | 1928 | 2005 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1981–83) |
| Mel Hupfeld* | 1962 |
—
|
Head Capability Systems (2014–), Air Commander Australia (2012–14), Commander Air Combat Group (2008–11) |
| Douglas Hurditch | 1921 |
—
|
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1974–75) |
| Sir Victor Hurley | 1888 | 1958 | Director-General Medical Services RAAF (1942–45) |
| Tim Innes* | 1960 |
—
|
Commander Joint Task Force 633 (2016–) |
| John Jordan | 1923 |
—
|
Air Member for Personnel (1975–76) |
| John Kindler | 1946 |
—
|
Air Commander Australia (2000–03) |
| Russell Law | 1928 |
—
|
Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1981–84) |
| John Lessels | 1930 | 1999 | Director-General Natural Disasters Organisation (1984–87) |
| Warren Ludwig | 1960 |
—
|
Commander Integrated Area Defence System, Malaysia (2010–14) |
| John Lush+ | 1915 | 1977 | Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1969–70), Commander, RAAF Forces Vietnam (1967–68) |
| George Mackinolty | 1895 | 1951 | Air Member for Supply and Equipment (1942–51) |
| Ian McLachlan | 1911 | 1991 | Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1959–61), Air Officer Commanding Training Command (1957–59) |
| Roxley McLennan | 1950 |
—
|
Deputy Chief of Air Force (2004–05), Commander Integrated Area Defence System, Malaysia (2002–04), Commander Air Lift Group (1998–00) |
| Frank McNamara+ | 1894 | 1961 | Air Officer Commanding British Forces Aden (1942–45), Air Officer Commanding Overseas Headquarters (1942). First Australian aviator to receive the Victoria Cross. |
| Anthony Marsh | 1915 | 1994 | Director-General Medical Services RAAF (1967–71) |
| Waren McDonald* |
—
|
—
|
Deputy Chief of Air Force (2015–) |
| Michael Miller | 1935 | 2016 | Surgeon-General Australian Defence Force (1990–92), Director General Air Force Health Services (1987–90) |
| Graeme Moller | 1943 |
—
|
Surgeon-General Australian Defence Force (1996–98), Director General Air Force Health Services (1990–93) |
| John Monaghan | 1954 |
—
|
Head, Aerospace Systems Division (2002–04) |
| David Morgan | 1920 | 1995 | Director-General RAAF Medical Services (1971–80) |
| Graham Neil | 1937 |
—
|
Director-General Policy and Plans (1987–89) |
| Geoffrey Newstead | 1920 | 2004 | Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1973–77), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1972–73), Commander, RAAF Forces Vietnam (1968–69) |
| Alastair Nicholson | 1938 |
—
|
Judge Advocate-General Australian Defence Force (1987–92), Judge Advocate General RAAF (1983–85) |
| Peter Nicholson | 1946 |
—
|
Air Commander Australia (1996–98) |
| Rodney Noble | 1921 | 1995 | Chief of Air Force Technical Services (1979–81) |
| Thomas O'Brien | 1939 |
—
|
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1990–93) |
| Brendan O'Loghlin | 1944 |
—
|
Air Officer Commanding Training Command (1994–95) |
| Kym Osley | 1959 |
—
|
Program Manager, New Air Combat Capability (2011–14), Head of Australian Defence Staff, Washington D.C. (2008–11), Commander Air Combat Group (2007–08) |
| Harold Parker | 1924 | 2006 | Director-General Air Force Operations and PLans (1976–77) |
| Ian Parker | 1923 | 1985 | Chief of Air Force Personnel (1976–79) |
| John Paule | 1932 |
—
|
Director-General Air Force Manpower (1985–87) |
| Kevin Paule | 1959 |
—
|
Head of Military Strategic Commitments (2010–13), Commander Air Force Training Group (2006–07) |
| Jack Plenty | 1956 |
—
|
Head Capability Systems (2008–12), Commander Air Lift Group (2007–08) |
| John Quaife | 1955 |
—
|
Head Capability Systems (2007–08), Air Commander Australia (2005–07), Commander Air Combat Group (2002–04) |
| Edward Radford | 1935 |
—
|
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1990), Air Commander Australia (1985–1990) |
| Alan Reed | 1933 |
—
|
Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command (1987–90) |
| Glen Reed | 1937 |
—
|
Director-General Air Force Health Services (1984–87) |
| Bernard Reynolds | 1931 | 1986 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1984–85) |
| Robert Richardson | 1941 |
—
|
Deputy Chief of Air Force (1997), Air Officer Commanding Training Command (1992–93) |
| Trevor Richardson | 1938 |
—
|
Commander Tactical Fighter Group (1988–90) |
| Michael Ridgway | 1928 | 2011 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1980–81) |
| Frederick Robey | 1921 | 1995 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1974–78), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1973–74), Commander, RAAF Forces Vietnam (1969–70) |
| David Rogers | 1943 |
—
|
Head of Capability Development (1997–98), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1994–97) |
| Hansjorg Roser | 1937 |
—
|
Director-General RAAF Tactical Fighter Project (1992–96) |
| Clive Rossiter | 1955 |
—
|
Head Aerospace Systems Division (2005–08) |
| Peter Scully | 1934 |
—
|
Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1983–86) |
| Bruce Short | 1942 |
—
|
Surgeon-General Australian Defence Force (2001–05) |
| William Simmonds | 1930 |
—
|
Chief of Air Force Operations and Plans (1985–87) |
| Mark Skidmore | 1959 |
—
|
Air Commander Australia (2008–12) |
| Tracy Smart* |
—
|
—
|
Commander Joint Health (2015–) |
| Neil Smith | 1945 |
—
|
Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1997–00) |
| Ian Smith* | 1953 |
—
|
Head Strategic Reform and Governance (2010–) |
| Christopher Spence | 1951 |
—
|
Commander Joint Logistics (2004–06), Deputy Chief of Air Force (2001–04) |
| Margaret Staib | 1962 |
—
|
CEO of Airservices Australia (2012–2015), Commander Joint Logistics (2010–12), Commandant, Australian Defence Force Academy (2009) |
| Eric Stephenson | 1922 |
—
|
Director-General Air Force Health Services (1980–84) |
| Ronald Susans | 1917 | 1992 | Director-General Operational Requirements (1966–69) |
| Ian Sutherland | 1931 |
—
|
Chief of Air Force Technical Services (1985–89) |
| Colin Thorne | 1963 |
—
|
Head Aerospace Systems (2008–13) |
| Donald Tidd | 1939 |
—
|
Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Logistics) (1993–95) |
| Alan Titheridge | 1946 |
—
|
Deputy Chief of Air Force (1999–01), Air Commander Australia (1998–99) |
| William Townsend | 1916 | 1987 | Air Officer Commanding Operational Command (1969–73), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (1967–69) |
| Raymond Trebilco | 1926 | 1998 | Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1979–80) |
| Robert Treloar | 1946 |
—
|
Commander Australian Theatre (1999–01) |
| Lawrence Trudinger | 1915 | 1985 | Director-General Medical Services RAAF (1963–67) |
| Kenneth Tuckwell | 1935 |
—
|
Director-General Air Force Operations (1981–82; 1987–88) |
| Gavin Turnbull* |
—
|
—
|
Air Commander Australia (2014–) |
| Ellis Wackett | 1901 | 1984 | Air Member for Technical Services (1942–59) |
| Allan Walters | 1905 | 1968 | Air Officer Commanding Support Command (1959–62), Air Officer Commanding Home Command (1954–57) |
| Kenneth Watson* |
—
|
—
|
Commander Northern Command (c.2012–13) |
| Elliott Weller | 1941 |
—
|
Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command (1995–97) |
| Brian Weston | 1945 |
—
|
Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Operations) (1995–97) |
| Robert White | 1926 | 1998 | Chief of Supply (1975–80) |
| Henry Wrigley+ | 1892 | 1987 | Air Officer Commanding Overseas Headquarters (1942–46) |
See also
Notes
- ↑ Gillison 1962, p. 16
- ↑ MacDougall 2007, p. 158
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Newton 1996, p. 15
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Rayner 1992, pp. 298–299
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- ↑ Gillison 1962, p. 93
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- ↑ Staunton 2005, pp. 47–49
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References
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