20 Facts About Neville McNamara

Neville McNamara served as Chief of the Air Staff, the RAAF's highest-ranking position, from 1979 until 1982, and as Chief of the Defence Force Staff, Australia's top military role at the time, from 1982 until 1984.

Neville McNamara was the second RAAF officer to hold the rank of air chief marshal.

Neville McNamara flew combat missions in Gloster Meteors during the Korean War.

Neville McNamara gained further operational experience heading the RAAF presence in Ubon, Thailand, in the late 1960s.

Neville McNamara was educated at Toogoolawah State School, and by the Christian Brothers in Warwick and at St Joseph's Nudgee College.

Neville McNamara was commissioned as a pilot officer in the Citizen Air Force on 1 May 1944, and was promoted to flying officer on 1 November.

Neville McNamara was promoted to temporary flight lieutenant on 1 May 1946, and received a short-service commission in the Permanent Air Force on 23 September 1948, with the rank of flight lieutenant.

On 1 September 1950, Neville McNamara was granted a permanent commission in the RAAF.

In 1960, Neville McNamara was posted to the UK to attend the Joint Services Staff College.

Neville McNamara received the Air Efficiency Award in 1965, and the following year took command of RAAF Ubon, Thailand.

Neville McNamara was promoted to acting group captain on 5 July 1967 and to the substantive rank the following 1 January.

Neville McNamara was promoted to air marshal and became Chief of the Air Staff in March 1979.

Neville McNamara succeeded Air Marshal Sir James Rowland, who had been the first CAS to personally command the RAAF in a legal sense, following the abolition of the Australian Air Board in 1976.

Under this earlier arrangement, Neville McNamara considered that some senior commanders tended to behave like "regional war lords" who thought that the CAS existed purely to handle politicians and paperwork, while they got on with the Air Force's "real work".

In 1982, Neville McNamara became the first Air Force member to directly command all three of Australia's armed services as Chief of the Defence Force Staff, which had replaced the earlier senior position in the defence force, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Neville McNamara became only the second RAAF officer to be raised to the rank of air chief marshal.

Neville McNamara sought to accomplish this through a restrained management style and respect for the department's public servants.

Shortly after Neville McNamara completed his term as CDFS in 1984, the position was redesignated Chief of the Defence Force, to more clearly reflect its authority over the Australian armed services.

Air Chief Marshal Neville McNamara retired from military life in April 1984.

Neville McNamara is commemorated by Sir Neville McNamara Drive in North Turramurra, New South Wales.