1. Frederick Scherger served as Chief of the Air Staff, the RAAF's highest-ranking position, from 1957 until 1961, and as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, forerunner of the role of Australia's Chief of the Defence Force, from 1961 until 1966.
Frederick Scherger was the first RAAF officer to hold the rank of air chief marshal.
Frederick Scherger was considered one of the top aviators between the wars, serving as a fighter pilot, test pilot, and flying instructor.
Frederick Scherger held senior training posts in the late 1930s and the early years of World War II, earning the Air Force Cross in June 1940.
Frederick Scherger entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1921 and graduated as a lieutenant in 1924, winning the King's Medal.
Frederick Scherger was promoted to flying officer with seniority from 21 January 1926.
Frederick Scherger quickly took to the art of flying open-cockpit biplanes and gained a reputation as a skilful if occasionally reckless pilot, being berated early in his career by his flight commander for "inverted and very low flying".
Frederick Scherger graduated from Andover in December 1935 and subsequently completed courses at the RAF's School of Air Navigation and Central Flying School.
Frederick Scherger was promoted to squadron leader on 1 July 1936.
Frederick Scherger was appointed Director of Training at RAAF Headquarters, Melbourne, in January 1938, and promoted to wing commander on 1 March 1939.
Frederick Scherger arrived at the civil airfield to witness a Curtiss P-40 crash land on the runway, before his car was strafed by fighters.
Frederick Scherger was relieved of his position at NWA by the CAS, Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Burnett, and shunted through a series of postings for the remainder of the year, including commanding officer at RAAF Station Richmond, supernumerary at RAAF Headquarters, Director of Defence at Allied Air Forces Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, and Director of Training at RAAF Headquarters.
Frederick Scherger was appointed air commander for the assault, leading US and Australian units.
Still recuperating, Frederick Scherger acted in the role of Air Member for Personnel at RAAF Headquarters, Melbourne, from January to May 1945.
In October 1945, Frederick Scherger led a survey team to Japan to review airfields and other facilities being considered for the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, determining that substantial work was needed to bring them up to the required capacity.
Frederick Scherger was promoted to substantive group captain on 1 January 1947, and was appointed Deputy Chief of the Air Staff on 1 July.
Frederick Scherger was raised to substantive air commodore on 23 September 1948, and promoted to temporary air vice marshal on 1 May 1950.
Frederick Scherger was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the King's Birthday Honours the same year.
Frederick Scherger was promoted to substantive air vice marshal on 1 July 1952.
Frederick Scherger deliberately sited his headquarters, which had been based in Singapore when he took over, next to the offices of the Director of Operations in Kuala Lumpur, to more closely align air tasking with overall military planning.
Frederick Scherger pioneered psychological warfare in the form of "voice" aircraft broadcasting propaganda, close cooperation between light aircraft spotters and ground forces to aid bombing missions, and defoliation to clear jungle cover.
Long identified as a strong contender for the RAAF's senior role, Frederick Scherger was described by Air Marshal Hardman as "easily the best material on offer".
In 1959 and 1960, Frederick Scherger had information sent out, including manuals and maintenance instructions, regarding equipping the Canberras with Mark 7 nuclear bombs, the same type that the British Canberras used.
Frederick Scherger was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1958 Queen's Birthday Honours.
An advocate of helicopters since his experience in Malaya, Frederick Scherger influenced purchase of the UH-1 Iroquois for Australia.
Frederick Scherger played a key role in the acquisition of the C-130 Hercules transport in 1958, over the Federal treasury's "bureaucratic hand-wringing"; the type soon proved itself vital to defence force activity in the region, being described as second only to the F-111 as "the most significant aircraft the RAAF has ever operated".
Frederick Scherger transferred funding already in place for extension of the runway at Laverton to effect this, signalling a fundamental shift in the Air Force's "centre of gravity" to the north of Australia.
The first edition of RAAF News, which had been sponsored by Frederick Scherger, appeared in January 1960 and carried a message from the CAS concerning current defence policy, as well as announcing that Sidewinder air-to-air missiles would begin equipping the Air Force's Sabres.
Frederick Scherger oversaw introduction of Bloodhound surface-to-air missiles to the RAAF's arsenal.
Frederick Scherger became Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, the senior Australian military position at the time, in May 1961, taking over from Vice Admiral Sir Roy Dowling.
Frederick Scherger augmented his role at ACAC with chairmanship of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation from 1968, and joined an Australian defence industries mission to the US the following year.
Frederick Scherger continued to lead ACAC and CAC until retiring to live in Melbourne in 1975.
Frederick Scherger served as director on the boards of other firms including electronics companies Plessey Pacific and International Computers Limited.
Frederick Scherger was given a military funeral with a flypast, and cremated.
Frederick Scherger was the first to go to the CAS post with a bit of class; the others approached it in a registered, a pedestrian fashion.
Frederick Scherger was an early advocate for "one Australian Defence Force" comprising three branches, under one Minister for Defence, rather than three competing services, each with its own minister.
Detractors accused him of cunning and excessive politicking, Air Marshal Williams declaring that Frederick Scherger favoured his friends in the service and later in TAA and CAC, and Prime Minister John Gorton famously calling him "a politician in uniform".
Frederick Scherger's name is borne by Sir Frederick Scherger Drive in North Turramurra, New South Wales.