Military Wiki
Register
Advertisement
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 Melvin Hupfeld
(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 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 CBEDFC 1942 – 1943
Air Commodore Charlesworth, Alan MoorhouseAlan Moorhouse Charlesworth CBEAFC 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 CBCBE 1949 – 1953
HQ Home Command
(Air Officers Commanding)
Air Vice Marshal McCauley, John Patrick JosephJohn Patrick Joseph McCauley CBCBE 1953 – 1954
Air Vice Marshal Walters, Allan LeslieAllan Leslie Walters CBCBEAFC 1954 – 1957
Air Vice Marshal Candy, Charles DouglasCharles Douglas Candy CBCBE 1958 – 1959
HQ Operational Command
(Air Officers Commanding)
Air Vice Marshal Hancock, Valston EldridgeValston Eldridge Hancock CBCBEDFC 1959 – 1961
Air Vice Marshal Headlam, FrankFrank Headlam CBCBE 1961 – 1962
Air Vice Marshal Murdoch, Alister MurrayAlister Murray Murdoch CBCBE 1962 – 1965
Air Vice Marshal Hannah, Colin ThomasColin Thomas Hannah CBCBE 1965 – 1967
Air Vice Marshal Hennock, Keith SelwynKeith Selwyn Hennock CBCBE 1967 – 1969
Air Vice Marshal Townsend, William EdwinWilliam Edwin Townsend CBCBE 1969 – 1973
Air Vice Marshal Eaton, Brian AlexanderBrian Alexander Eaton CBCBEDSO and BarDFC 1973
Air Vice Marshal Robey, Frederick StephenFrederick Stephen Robey AOCBE 1974 – 1978
Air Vice Marshal Adams, John IrwinJohn Irwin Adams CBEDFCAFC 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 AOAFC 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 AMAFC 1999 – 2000
Air Vice Marshal Kindler, John WalterJohn Walter Kindler AOAFC 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 –

References[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at RAAF Air Command and the edit history here.
Advertisement