frank march senior commander royal_australian_air_force raaf joining marine youth pilot britain world war given command squadron newly formed royal_air_force following year took charge squadron raf egypt returning australia joined short lived founding member raaf march maritime aviation led seaplane formations based victoria 1920s early 1930s appointed commanding officer point cook promoted group captain took command raaf station richmond new_south_wales following year outbreak world war slated lead air expeditionary force great_britain plan abandoned australia committed empire air training scheme promoted temporary air commodore served air officer commanding western area finished war melbourne nicknamed retired air_force died age eighty early life world war born march auburn suburb sydney son wife ellen following limited education joined second officer transferred shortly outbreak world war operating troop ships england france saw service gallipoli navigator allied landings april withdrawal december july transferred temporary flight sub lieutenant awarded wings november training seaplane pilot hampshire posted wales february later year claimed unconfirmed sinking german submarine coastal patrol promoted flight lieutenant january honorary captain royal_air_force raf april following merger posted squadron italy later taking command unit short seaplane escorting allied bombers raid port city albania rescued crew seaplane forced austrian held harbour awarded actions italian silver medal military wars posted alexandria egypt january command seaplane squadron offered permanent commission raf august returned australia sought employment pilot specialist seaplane pilot naval cooperation work arranged captain commission recently established successor wartime june accompanied captain flight altitude feet setting australian record stood years later month flying person land aircraft victoria july charge trials aboard flagship joined royal_australian_air_force raaf flight lieutenant original officers strength formed march going frank popularly known service august underwent raaf course australian_army new south wales fellow included flying officers 1920s held series raaf point cook victoria air force headquarters melbourne charge seaplane flight crashed claimed main concern following state trousers wearing lost raaf sole accident year later married presbyterian ceremony melbourne october couple daughter escape august crashed hangar witness said renowned fiery temper wreckage began violently abuse aircraft examining officer flight instructors course exchange britain underwent aircraft carriers served staff squadron based south coast england return australia given command raaf point cook promoted wing commander december led early promoted group captain january took commanding officer headquarters raaf station richmond new_south_wales group captain cole january following year world war staff headquarters richmond worked flat days prior outbreak world war base fit state readiness immediately hostilities declared september central war room melbourne passing instructions squadrons following day richmond wartime sortie took place flight patrolling ocean sydney month chief air staff air vice marshal proposed squadron air expeditionary force great_britain raaf seventh senior officer charge air marshal long time rival leadership air_force 1920s later contended favouring fellow veteran seaplane specialist lead raaf largest formation date particularly considering contenders role greater experience concept case abandoned soon australia concentrated participation empire air training scheme time half seeing dinner guests base attempted enter perimeter main gate wearing civilian clothes security pass challenged locked guards recognise believe assurances commander finally released orderly officer morning advice base warrant officer disciplinary congratulated guards prevented taking action concerned completing tenure richmond briefly took role senior air staff officer october following month forward establish raaf depot london look interests thousands australian airmen financial considerations led plan temporarily fact formed december appointed air officer commanding missed potential posting middle_east suggested british turned australian government promoted acting air commodore inaugural western area headquartered perth january units controlled position general reconnaissance squadron general purpose squadron transport squadron fighter squadron worked prepare operations fighter squadron able defend perth lobbied force long range flying boats augment squadron offered temporary air commodore july february eighth senior officer raaf handing air commodore january post saw rest war june appointed commander order british empire later life retired raaf war number senior commanders veterans world war partly way advancement younger equally capable officers suspect health recommending early retirement air vice marshal noted possessed fairly good service knowledge strong character efforts ill directed furthermore statutory retiring age substantive rank group captain officially discharged april honorary air commodore chief hobby retirement painting water colours march select group surviving foundation members attended celebratory dinner hotel canberra mark raaf fellow guests included sir wing commander sir died home suburb melbourne survived daughter cremated
Hippolyte De La Rue