air commodore frank july february senior commander royal_australian_air_force raaf veteran world war saw combat soldier transferred flew squadron middle_east twice mentioned despatches member australian following war transferred fledgling raaf commanding officer newly formed squadron new_south_wales went lead squadron early 1930s promoted group captain appointed officer order british empire year charge victoria early years world war later held forward commands theatre including later appointed commander order british empire served raaf controlling body retirement air_force manager active veterans associations died age early life world war born july western_australia son wife jean educated perth later worked family farm october joined 10th light horse regiment regiment raised western_australia ranked corporal sailed aboard february seeing combat gallipoli egypt gallipoli 10th light horse went action battles hill withdrawn december egypt took campaign turks including commissioned second lieutenant july promoted lieutenant december february transferred posted squadron known squadron operating palestine undertook reconnaissance missions observer april september january completed pilot training began flying fighter ground attack sorties twice mentioned despatches distinguished service middle_east january second january finished war flight commander temporary rank captain returned australia march wars disbandment wartime joined short lived early transferred newly formed royal_australian_air_force march following year ranked flying officer honorary flight lieutenant original officers air_force strength formation popularly known luke february surveyed air route perth south_australia took service earliest public flying displays year pilot flew mock sydney january married mary couple later sons previous year best man wedding squadron leader victoria_cross recipient world war squadron formed raaf point cook victoria july commanding officer week operating unit established air_force newest base raaf station richmond new_south_wales alerted forthcoming inspection chief air staff group captain engage program base arranging delivery pot plants shrubs williams concluded inspection happily surprised quickly duration tour squadron commander doubled base promoted squadron leader july handed command squadron leader january served squadron interrupted posting britain attend raised wing commander placed charge raaf station victoria held command point cook january november receiving appointment officer order british empire king birthday honours promotion group captain july year world war december acting air commodore posted queensland inaugural air officer commanding northern area described commander far east air force dark energetic man keen sense humour alive situation charge air defence north coast australia task complicated poor standard quantity available equipment fighters january split remaining charge temporary air commodore following month warned higher command poor state low morale australian_army troops port new_guinea lack air cover apparent lack interest government march seventeen squadron newly formed deployed unit shortly distinguish end april forces consisted squadrons general purpose transport fighter general purpose squadron southern queensland squadrons general purpose fighter port posted melbourne handed command group captain later august march appointed commander order british empire courage enterprise devotion displayed air member personnel occupied seat raaf controlling body chaired chief air staff position clashed group officer director women auxiliary australian air force plans reduce number female officers technical roles forced going head deputy chief air staff voice opposition scheme cuts positions november took raaf main mobile formation pacific time commander sacked chief air staff air vice marshal allegations poor discipline morale change leadership dismayed led senior air officers lieutenant general hold high regard predecessor months supported allied invasion january mounted operation force seventy aircraft comprising light bombers fighters largest strike undertaken australians date encountered opposition voiced concerns role assigned costing fighter pilots opportunity engage air air combat pacific conflict shifted north operational colloquially known raaf non group ordered transfer fighter wings convoy escort late february complained directly waste resources ruled rest garrison force new_guinea renamed april better reflect new status original mobile strike role taken later australian tactical air force considered position incumbent acting air vice marshal adrian cole removed position following accusations raaf headquarters meeting november event remained charge following april took command melbourne held post remainder pacific war later life took final raaf posting air officer commanding eastern area december end hostilities retired number senior commanders veterans world war ostensibly way advancement younger equally capable officers according raaf historian believed taken role war strange accusation man air member personnel raaf important operational group officially discharged employed leaving air_force airfield manager melbourne took airline canberra office joining firm year merged active veterans organisations served president victoria helped found canberra survived wife children died melbourne cancer february cremated
Frank Lukis