Chief of Air Force (New Zealand)

Last updated

Chief of Air Force
Darryn Webb MNZM (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Darryn Webb
since 2 October 2023
Style Air Vice Marshal
Member of New Zealand Defence Force
Reports to Chief of Defence Force
Term length Three 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 Isitt NEW ZEALAND 1945.jpg
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.

RankNamePostnominalsServiceTerm beganTerm 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 RAF25 February 1939 [2] 28 September 1941
Air Commodore Victor Goddard CB , CBE RAF29 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 RNZAFMay 1946January 1951
Air Vice-Marshal David Carnegie CB , CBE , AFC RAFJanuary 1951 [5] 22 February 1954
Air Vice-Marshal Walter Merton CB , OBE RAF23 February 1954 [6] 4 June 1956
Air Vice-Marshal Cyrus Kay CB , CBE , DFC RNZAF5 June 195630 June 1958
Air Vice-Marshal Malcolm Calder CB , CBE RNZAF1 July 1958November 1962
Air Vice-Marshal Ian Morrison CB , CBE RNZAFNovember 1962July 1966
Air Vice-Marshal Cameron Turner CB , CBE RNZAFJuly 1966July 1969
Air Vice-Marshal William Stratton CB , CBE , DFC & Bar RNZAFJuly 1969July 1971
Air Vice-Marshal Douglas St George CB , CBE , DFC , AFC RNZAFJuly 1971September 1974
Air Vice-Marshal Richard Bolt* CB , CBE , DFC , AFC RNZAFSeptember 1974October 1976
Air Vice-Marshal Larry Siegert CB , CBE , MVO , DFC , AFC RNZAFOctober 1976October 1979
Air Vice-Marshal Ewan Jamieson* CB , OBE RNZAFOctober 1979April 1983
Air Vice-Marshal David Crooks* CB , OBE RNZAFApril 1983October 1986
Air Vice-Marshal Patrick Neville CB , CBE , AFC RNZAFOctober 19861988
Air Vice-Marshal Peter Adamson CB , OBE RNZAF19881992
Air Vice-Marshal John Hosie CB , OBE RNZAF1992September 1995
Air Vice-Marshal Carey Adamson* CNZM , AFC RNZAFSeptember 1995 [7] 24 February 1999
Air Vice-Marshal Don Hamilton OBE RNZAF25 February 1999 [8] 24 February 2002
Chief of Air Force
Air Vice-Marshal John Hamilton ONZM , MVO RNZAF25 February 2002 [9] 30 April 2006
Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott ONZM RNZAF1 May 2006 [10] 30 April 2011
Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell ONZM , AFC RNZAF1 May 201130 April 2014
Air Vice-Marshal Mike Yardley DSD RNZAF1 May 2014 [11] 22 March 2016
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies* MNZM RNZAF23 March 2016 [12] 9 September 2018
Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark RNZAF10 September 2018 [13] 2 October 2023
Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb MNZM RNZAF2 October 2023Incumbent

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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.