Chief of Air Force
Incumbent
Andrew Clark
since 10 September 2018
StyleAir Vice Marshal
Member ofNew Zealand Defence Force
Reports toChief of Defence Force
Term lengthThree years (renewable)
Inaugural holderGroup Captain Ralph Cochrane
Formation1 April 1937

Chief of Air Force (CAF) is the most senior appointment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, responsible to the Chief of Defence Force. The post was originally known as the Chief of the Air Staff.

Appointees

Air Vice Marshal Sir Leonard Isitt, representing New Zealand, accepts the Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945
  This along with the * (asterisk) indicates that the individual was subsequently promoted to air marshal and appointed Chief of Defence Force.

The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief of Air Force or its preceding positions, with rank and honours as at the completion of the individual's term.

Rank Name Postnominals Service Term began Term ended
Chief of the Air Staff
Group Captain Ralph Cochrane CBE, AFC RAF 1 April 1937[1] 24 February 1939
Group Captain Hugh Saunders CBE, MC, DFC & Bar, MM RAF 25 February 1939[2] 28 September 1941
Air Commodore Victor Goddard CB, CBE RAF 29 September 1941[3] 18 July 1943
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Leonard Isitt KBE RNZAF 19 July 1943[4] May 1946
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur Nevill KBE, CB RNZAF May 1946 January 1951
Air Vice-Marshal David Carnegie CB, CBE, AFC RAF January 1951[5] 22 February 1954
Air Vice-Marshal Walter Merton CB, OBE RAF 23 February 1954[6] 4 June 1956
Air Vice-Marshal Cyrus Kay CB, CBE, DFC RNZAF 5 June 1956 30 June 1958
Air Vice-Marshal Malcolm Calder CB, CBE RNZAF 1 July 1958 November 1962
Air Vice-Marshal Ian Morrison CB, CBE RNZAF November 1962 July 1966
Air Vice-Marshal Cameron Turner CB, CBE RNZAF July 1966 July 1969
Air Vice-Marshal William Stratton CB, CBE, DFC & Bar RNZAF July 1969 July 1971
Air Vice-Marshal Douglas St George CB, CBE, DFC, AFC RNZAF July 1971 September 1974
Air Vice-Marshal Richard Bolt* CB, CBE, DFC, AFC RNZAF September 1974 October 1976
Air Vice-Marshal Larry Siegert CB, CBE, MVO, DFC, AFC RNZAF October 1976 October 1979
Air Vice-Marshal Ewan Jamieson* CB, OBE RNZAF October 1979 April 1983
Air Vice-Marshal David Crooks* CB, OBE RNZAF April 1983 October 1986
Air Vice-Marshal Patrick Neville CB, CBE, AFC RNZAF October 1986 1988
Air Vice-Marshal Peter Adamson CB, OBE RNZAF 1988 1992
Air Vice-Marshal John Hosie CB, OBE RNZAF 1992 September 1995
Air Vice-Marshal Carey Adamson* CNZM, AFC RNZAF September 1995[7] 24 February 1999
Air Vice-Marshal Don Hamilton OBE RNZAF 25 February 1999[8] 24 February 2002
Chief of Air Force
Air Vice-Marshal John Hamilton ONZM, MVO RNZAF 25 February 2002[9] 30 April 2006
Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott ONZM RNZAF 1 May 2006[10] 30 April 2011
Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell ONZM, AFC RNZAF 1 May 2011 30 April 2014
Air Vice-Marshal Mike Yardley DSD RNZAF 1 May 2014[11] 22 March 2016
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM RNZAF 23 March 2016[12] 9 September 2018
Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark RNZAF 10 September 2018[13] Incumbent

References

  1. ^ "Air Chief Marshal The Hon Sir Ralph Cochrane". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  2. ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Saunders". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  3. ^ "Air Marshal Sir Victor Goddard". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Archived from the original on 15 August 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  4. ^ Crooks, David M. "Isitt, Leonard Monk 1891 – 1976". Dictionary of New Zealand biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  5. ^ "Air Vice Marshal D V Carnegie (07004)". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  6. ^ "Air Chief Marshal Sir Walter Merton". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  7. ^ Lee-Frampton, Nick (24–30 July 1996). "Forward Thrust". Flight International. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  8. ^ "The Post War Years". RNZAF. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  9. ^ "The Defence Portfolio Briefing to the Incoming Government 2002". New Zealand Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  10. ^ "Chief of Air Force". New Zealand Defence Force. Archived from the original on 17 March 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  11. ^ "New Air Force chief named". New Zealand Herald. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee appoints new RNZAF Chief". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax Digital. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  13. ^ "New Chiefs Appointed for All Three Branches of the Armed Forces". The New Zealand Herald. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
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