The Air Board, also known as the Administrative Air Board, or the Air Board of Administration, was the controlling body of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from 1921 to 1976. It was composed of senior RAAF officers as well as some civilian members, and chaired by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). The CAS was the operational head of the Air Force, and the other board members were responsible for specific areas of the service such as personnel, supply, engineering, and finance. Originally based in Melbourne, the board relocated to Canberra in 1961.
Air Vice-Marshal Wackett, the longest-serving member of the Air Board, c. 1958
Members of the inaugural Air Board, pictured in 1928. Back row: Major P.E. Coleman (Secretary); A.C. Joyce (Finance Member). Front row: Group Captain S.J. Goble (Director of Personnel and Training); Air Commodore R. Williams (Director of Intelligence and Organisation); Wing Commander R.A. McBain (Director of Equipment).
Members of the Air Board in November 1930. Back row: Major P.E. Coleman (Secretary); A.C. Joyce (Finance Member). Front row: Group Captain S.J. Goble (Air Member for Personnel); Air Commodore R. Williams (Chief of the Air Staff); Wing Commander W.H. Anderson (Air Member for Supply).
Air Board meeting, c. 1941. From left: C.V. Kellway (Finance Member); R. Lawson (Director General of Supply and Production); Air Vice-Marshal H.N. Wrigley (Air Member for Personnel); Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Burnett (Chief of the Air Staff); F.J. Mulrooney (Secretary to the Air Board); Air Marshal R. Williams (Air Member for Organisation and Equipment); W.S. Jones (Business Member); M.C. Langslow (Secretary of the Department of Air).
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally the Governor-General of Australia is the de jure Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force. The Royal Australian Air Force is commanded by the Chief of Air Force (CAF), who is subordinate to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). The CAF is also directly responsible to the Minister for Defence, with the Department of Defence administering the ADF and the Air Force.
Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk IA of 75 Squadron RAAF, which F/O Geoff Atherton flew over New Guinea in August 1942.
The Brewster F2A Buffalo participated in air campaigns over Malayan, Singapore and Dutch East Indies
Two RAAF Mirage III fighters in 1980
An RAAF F/A-18 with a USAF KC-135, two F-15Es, an F-117, two F-16s and a RAF Tornado over Iraq
