Aviators’ historic role recalled

By Dr Chris Clark andMike Nelmes

FIFTEEN aviators recently came under the spotlight at the biennial Air Force history conference.

The theme of the conference, attended by more than 200 delegates, was “Masters of Air Power”. The Air Power Development Centre and Office of Air History hosted it in Canberra on August 12.

The 15 men were a selection from the diverse range of personalities who have been important in the historical development of air strategy and operations.

The conference examined the contributions they made to aviation.

Many had significantly altered the thinking of the air forces of their respective nations.

They included figures who rose to prominence during World War I in Britain, America and Italy, and others from World War II – including Air Vice-Marshal William Bostock, who was Commander, RAAF Command and Chief of Staff under US General George Kenney, Commander of the Allied Air Forces in the south-west Pacific. He was responsible for the air defence of mainland Australia and air operations from Australia.

Other sessions focused on officers who became notable for their roles in later campaigns, such as the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, the 1971 India-Pakistan War and the 1991 Gulf War.

.