Neville McNamara
Encyclopedia
Air Chief Marshal
Sir Neville Patrick McNamara KBE, AO, AFC
, AE
(born 17 April 1923) is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF). He served as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), the RAAF's highest-ranking position, from 1979 until 1982, and as Chief of the Defence Force Staff
(CDFS), Australia's top military role at the time, from 1982 until 1984. He is the second of three RAAF officers to have held the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
Born in Queensland
, McNamara joined the RAAF during World War II
and saw action in the South West Pacific
, flying P-40 Kittyhawks
. He also flew combat missions in Gloster Meteor
s during the Korean War
. In 1961, he was awarded the Air Force Cross
for his leadership of No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit
. He gained further operational experience heading the RAAF presence in Ubon, Thailand in the late 1960s. Promoted to Air Commodore
, McNamara was Commander RAAF Forces Vietnam, and Deputy Commander Australian Forces Vietnam, in 1971–72, for which he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. As Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
in 1976, he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia. Knighted while CAS in 1980, he retired after completing his term as CDFS in 1984.
. He was educated at Toogoolawah State School, and by the Christian Brothers in Warwick
and at St. Joseph's Nudgee College
. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF) on 12 October 1941. Following aircrew training, he graduated as a sergeant pilot
on 15 October 1942. He served as an instructor
before being posted to the South West Pacific
as a fighter pilot with No. 75 Squadron
, flying P-40 Kittyhawks
. He gained his commission
in 1944.
duties at Headquarters North Eastern Area. During 1947, he was stationed at Bofu
, Japan, with No. 82 Squadron
, as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
(BCOF). He married Dorothy Miller on 27 May 1950; the couple had two daughters. From 1951 to 1953, he served as an instructor at Central Flying School
in East Sale
, Victoria. Ranked Squadron Leader
, he then saw operational service in the Korean War
as the Executive Officer of No. 77 Squadron
, flying Gloster Meteor
s. Initially employed in the conflict as a fighter unit, by this time No. 77 Squadron's role was primarily ground attack
, using the Meteors' cannon augmented by newly fitted rocket armament. McNamara briefly took charge of the unit in November–December when there was a hiatus between Commanding Officers rotating out and rotating in.
Returning to Australia in 1954, McNamara was posted to Headquarters Training Command as Pilot Training Officer. From 1955 until 1957 he served as Staff Officer Fighter Operations at the Department of Air, before being appointed Commanding Officer of No. 25 Squadron
. Promoted Wing Commander
, he took charge of No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit
(2OCU) at RAAF Base Williamtown
, New South Wales in 1959. McNamara's tenure at 2OCU was marked by the beginning of training on CAC Sabres
, following conversion from De Havilland Vampire
s; his performance earned him the Air Force Cross
in the 1961 Queen's Birthday Honours
.
In 1961 McNamara was posted to England as the Senior Air Staff Officer, RAAF Staff London, and then in 1964 was appointed the Director of Personnel (Officers) at the Department of Air. He received the Air Efficiency Award
in 1965, and the following year took command of RAAF Ubon, Thailand. Operating under the provisions of the SEATO agreement
during the early years of the Vietnam War
, the Australian contingent included No. 79 Squadron
, flying Sidewinder
-equipped CAC Sabres. Although only fifty kilometres from the Laotian
border and occasionally scrambled to intercept North Vietnam
ese fighters, the Sabres never saw action, in contrast to their USAF
brethren also based at Ubon. Limited as its military role was, however, the RAAF presence was judged politically valuable. After completing his tour in Thailand, McNamara served as Air Staff Officer at RAAF Base Richmond
, New South Wales until 1968, before being appointed as the Director General Organisation in the Department of Air.
, in April 1971 McNamara became the last Commander RAAF Forces Vietnam and Deputy Commander Australian Force Vietnam (AFV). Believing that the Air Force paid "lip service" to its army cooperation responsibilities in the 1950s and 60s, he familiarised himself with the finer points of air/ground operations by accompanying No. 9 Squadron
helicopters on missions supporting 1st Australian Task Force
in Phuoc Tuy Province
. Given the responsibility of overseeing the withdrawal of the RAAF from Vietnam in 1972, McNamara was praised for his "wise and patient counsel, devotion to duty and firm control", leading to his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in September that year. In 1973, he was posted to the United States as the Australian Air Attache to Washington, D.C. Promoted to Air Vice Marshal, he returned to Australia in 1975 and took up duties as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff
, which he later described as "an invaluable learning experience for the top job". He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) on 7 June 1976 for "distinguished service in responsible positions".
McNamara was promoted to Air Marshal
and became Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) in March 1979. He succeeded Air Marshal Sir James Rowland, who had been the first CAS to personally command the RAAF in a legal sense, following the abolition of the Australian Air Board in 1976. Previously, the CAS position was more akin to a chairman, "first among equals" with the other members of the Air Board. Under this earlier arrangement, McNamara considered that some senior commanders tended to behave like "regional war lords" who thought that the CAS existed purely to handle politicians and paperwork, while they (the commanders) got on with the Air Force's "real work". As CAS, McNamara put in train development of new strategies for the air defence of Australia, later remarking that "capability must be matched by ideas". He also supervised the selection process that chose the F/A-18 Hornet
to the replace the RAAF's Mirage III
fighters. McNamara personally favoured the F/A-18 due to its multi-role capability. Appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) on 31 December 1980, he was the last CAS to be knighted before Australia abandoned the imperial honours system.
In 1982, McNamara became the first Air Force member to directly command all three of Australia's armed services as Chief of the Defence Force Staff (CDFS), which had replaced the earlier senior position in the defence force, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. He also became only the second RAAF officer to be raised to the rank of Air Chief Marshal
. As CDFS, McNamara had to work to repair strained relations between the Defence Department's military and civilian components. He sought to accomplish this through a restrained management style and respect for the department's public servants
. At the same time, he maintained the need for military and civilian personnel to be easily distinguishable, and reversed a trend for armed force personnel to wear suits "in the office" and uniforms only "on parade", which was the preference of Minister for Defence
Arthur Tange
. The military and public service wings of the department still clashed over the question of enlarging the CDFS' role to achieve more coherent defence planning. Shortly after McNamara completed his term as CDFS in 1984, the position became Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), and carried broader authority over the Australian armed services.
on 1 January 2001 for his "service to Australian society through the Royal Australian Air Force". That year he joined celebrations at Point Cook, Victoria, to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the RAAF. McNamara published his autobiography, The Quiet Man, in 2005. He is commemorated by Sir Neville McNamara Drive in North Turramurra, New South Wales
.
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Neville Patrick McNamara KBE, AO, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
, AE
Air Efficiency Award
The Air Efficiency award, abbreviated to AE when placed after a holder's name, was a United Kingdom honour given for ten years' efficient service in the Reserve Air Forces of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and Empire. Unlike other long service and meritorious conduct awards, both officers and...
(born 17 April 1923) is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF). He served as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), the RAAF's highest-ranking position, from 1979 until 1982, and as Chief of the Defence Force Staff
Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force . The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.The position is a...
(CDFS), Australia's top military role at the time, from 1982 until 1984. He is the second of three RAAF officers to have held the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
Born in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, McNamara joined the RAAF during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and saw action in the South West Pacific
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
, flying P-40 Kittyhawks
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
. He also flew combat missions in Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
s during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. In 1961, he was awarded the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
for his leadership of No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit
No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF
No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit is a Royal Australian Air Force training unit located at RAAF Base Williamtown. 2OCU's main role is to train pilots to operate the F/A-18 Hornet. New RAAF pilots enter 2OCU for training after first qualifying to fly jet fighters in No. 76 Squadron...
. He gained further operational experience heading the RAAF presence in Ubon, Thailand in the late 1960s. Promoted to Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
, McNamara was Commander RAAF Forces Vietnam, and Deputy Commander Australian Forces Vietnam, in 1971–72, for which he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. As Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
Deputy Chief of Air Force (Australia)
Deputy Chief of Air Force is the second most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Air Force, responsible to the Chief of Air Force . The rank associated with the position is Air Vice Marshal . DCAF acts as the manager of the Air Force Headquarters , which provides oversight of activities in...
in 1976, he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia. Knighted while CAS in 1980, he retired after completing his term as CDFS in 1984.
Early life and World War II
Neville Patrick McNamara was born on 17 April 1923 in Toogoolawah, QueenslandToogoolawah, Queensland
Toogoolawah is a small town in South East Queensland, Australia. Toogoolawah is a centre for gliding and parachuting and in the past the centre of a dairying industry. Cressbrook Creek, a tributary of the Brisbane River, passes through the town as does the Brisbane Valley Highway...
. He was educated at Toogoolawah State School, and by the Christian Brothers in Warwick
Warwick, Queensland
Warwick is a town in Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Local Government Area. In 2006 the town of Warwick had a population of 12,562....
and at St. Joseph's Nudgee College
St. Joseph's Nudgee College
St Joseph's Nudgee College is a private, Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys, located in Boondall, a northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) on 12 October 1941. Following aircrew training, he graduated as a sergeant pilot
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
on 15 October 1942. He served as an instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
before being posted to the South West Pacific
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
as a fighter pilot with No. 75 Squadron
No. 75 Squadron RAAF
No. 75 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter unit based at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. The squadron was formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II, operating P-40 Kittyhawks. It was disbanded in 1948, but reformed the...
, flying P-40 Kittyhawks
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
. He gained his commission
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in 1944.
Rise to senior command
After the war, McNamara was posted to air traffic controlAir traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
duties at Headquarters North Eastern Area. During 1947, he was stationed at Bofu
Hofu, Yamaguchi
is a city located in Yamaguchi, Japan.-History:Hōfu means "the capital of Suō Province".The eastern part of Yamaguchi prefecture was formerly called Suō Province.The city was founded on August 25, 1936...
, Japan, with No. 82 Squadron
No. 82 Squadron RAAF
No. 82 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. The Squadron was formed in June 1943 and was disbanded in October 1948 after seeing action during World War II and participating in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.-History:...
, as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
(BCOF). He married Dorothy Miller on 27 May 1950; the couple had two daughters. From 1951 to 1953, he served as an instructor at Central Flying School
Central Flying School RAAF
The Central Flying School RAAF is a Royal Australian Air Force training establishment, based at RAAF Base East Sale. It was formed in March 1913, and during the First World War it trained over 150 pilots, who fought in Europe and the Middle East....
in East Sale
Sale, Victoria
Sale is a city in the Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. It is the seat of the Shire of Wellington as well as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale and the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland. It has a population of around 13,336, and is expected to reach a population of 14,000 soon...
, Victoria. Ranked Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
, he then saw operational service in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
as the Executive Officer of No. 77 Squadron
No. 77 Squadron RAAF
No. 77 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1942 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown.-History:...
, flying Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
s. Initially employed in the conflict as a fighter unit, by this time No. 77 Squadron's role was primarily ground attack
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
, using the Meteors' cannon augmented by newly fitted rocket armament. McNamara briefly took charge of the unit in November–December when there was a hiatus between Commanding Officers rotating out and rotating in.
Returning to Australia in 1954, McNamara was posted to Headquarters Training Command as Pilot Training Officer. From 1955 until 1957 he served as Staff Officer Fighter Operations at the Department of Air, before being appointed Commanding Officer of No. 25 Squadron
No. 25 Squadron RAAF
No. 25 Squadron is a general reserve squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force. The squadron is based at RAAF Base Pearce in Perth, Western Australia and forms part of the Combat Reserve Wing. The squadron has been based at Pearce since 1938. 25 Squadron was originally formed at RAAF Base...
. Promoted Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
, he took charge of No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit
No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF
No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit is a Royal Australian Air Force training unit located at RAAF Base Williamtown. 2OCU's main role is to train pilots to operate the F/A-18 Hornet. New RAAF pilots enter 2OCU for training after first qualifying to fly jet fighters in No. 76 Squadron...
(2OCU) at RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
, New South Wales in 1959. McNamara's tenure at 2OCU was marked by the beginning of training on CAC Sabres
CAC Sabre
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Allward, Maurice. F-86 Sabre. London: Ian Allen, 1978. ISBN 0-71100-860-4.* Curtis, Duncan. North American F-86 Sabre. Ramsbury, UK: Crowood, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-358-9....
, following conversion from De Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
s; his performance earned him the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
in the 1961 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
.
In 1961 McNamara was posted to England as the Senior Air Staff Officer, RAAF Staff London, and then in 1964 was appointed the Director of Personnel (Officers) at the Department of Air. He received the Air Efficiency Award
Air Efficiency Award
The Air Efficiency award, abbreviated to AE when placed after a holder's name, was a United Kingdom honour given for ten years' efficient service in the Reserve Air Forces of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and Empire. Unlike other long service and meritorious conduct awards, both officers and...
in 1965, and the following year took command of RAAF Ubon, Thailand. Operating under the provisions of the SEATO agreement
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was an international organization for collective defense in Southeast Asia created by the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, or Manila Pact, signed in September 1954 in Manila, Philippines. The formal institution of SEATO was established on 19 February...
during the early years of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the Australian contingent included No. 79 Squadron
No. 79 Squadron RAAF
No. 79 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force flight training unit which has been formed on four occasions since 1943. The squadron was established in May 1943 as a fighter unit equipped with Supermarine Spitfires, and subsequently saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
, flying Sidewinder
AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried mostly by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. The missile entered service with United States Air Force in the early 1950s, and variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces...
-equipped CAC Sabres. Although only fifty kilometres from the Laotian
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
border and occasionally scrambled to intercept North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
ese fighters, the Sabres never saw action, in contrast to their USAF
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
brethren also based at Ubon. Limited as its military role was, however, the RAAF presence was judged politically valuable. After completing his tour in Thailand, McNamara served as Air Staff Officer at RAAF Base Richmond
RAAF Base Richmond
RAAF Base Richmond is one of Australia's oldest and largest air force bases. It is located within the City of Hawkesbury in the north-western fringe of Sydney, New South Wales, between the towns of Windsor and Richmond. The base is home to the Royal Australian Air Force's transport headquarters,...
, New South Wales until 1968, before being appointed as the Director General Organisation in the Department of Air.
Senior RAAF and Australian Defence Force command
Promoted to Air CommodoreAir Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
, in April 1971 McNamara became the last Commander RAAF Forces Vietnam and Deputy Commander Australian Force Vietnam (AFV). Believing that the Air Force paid "lip service" to its army cooperation responsibilities in the 1950s and 60s, he familiarised himself with the finer points of air/ground operations by accompanying No. 9 Squadron
No. 9 Squadron RAAF
No. 9 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Australian Air Force. The Squadron saw active service in World War II and the Vietnam War before being disbanded in 1989.-Fleet co-operation:...
helicopters on missions supporting 1st Australian Task Force
1st Australian Task Force
The 1st Australian Task Force commanded the Australian and New Zealand Army units deployed to South Vietnam between 1966 and 1972. 1 ATF was based at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province...
in Phuoc Tuy Province
Phuoc Tuy Province
Phước Tuy Province was a province of South Vietnam. It now mostly corresponds to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, just southeast of Ho Chi Minh City....
. Given the responsibility of overseeing the withdrawal of the RAAF from Vietnam in 1972, McNamara was praised for his "wise and patient counsel, devotion to duty and firm control", leading to his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in September that year. In 1973, he was posted to the United States as the Australian Air Attache to Washington, D.C. Promoted to Air Vice Marshal, he returned to Australia in 1975 and took up duties as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff
Deputy Chief of Air Force (Australia)
Deputy Chief of Air Force is the second most senior appointment in the Royal Australian Air Force, responsible to the Chief of Air Force . The rank associated with the position is Air Vice Marshal . DCAF acts as the manager of the Air Force Headquarters , which provides oversight of activities in...
, which he later described as "an invaluable learning experience for the top job". He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) on 7 June 1976 for "distinguished service in responsible positions".
McNamara was promoted to Air Marshal
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
and became Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) in March 1979. He succeeded Air Marshal Sir James Rowland, who had been the first CAS to personally command the RAAF in a legal sense, following the abolition of the Australian Air Board in 1976. Previously, the CAS position was more akin to a chairman, "first among equals" with the other members of the Air Board. Under this earlier arrangement, McNamara considered that some senior commanders tended to behave like "regional war lords" who thought that the CAS existed purely to handle politicians and paperwork, while they (the commanders) got on with the Air Force's "real work". As CAS, McNamara put in train development of new strategies for the air defence of Australia, later remarking that "capability must be matched by ideas". He also supervised the selection process that chose the F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
to the replace the RAAF's Mirage III
Dassault Mirage III
The Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation during the late 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade...
fighters. McNamara personally favoured the F/A-18 due to its multi-role capability. Appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) on 31 December 1980, he was the last CAS to be knighted before Australia abandoned the imperial honours system.
In 1982, McNamara became the first Air Force member to directly command all three of Australia's armed services as Chief of the Defence Force Staff (CDFS), which had replaced the earlier senior position in the defence force, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. He also became only the second RAAF officer to be raised to the rank of Air Chief Marshal
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
. As CDFS, McNamara had to work to repair strained relations between the Defence Department's military and civilian components. He sought to accomplish this through a restrained management style and respect for the department's public servants
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
. At the same time, he maintained the need for military and civilian personnel to be easily distinguishable, and reversed a trend for armed force personnel to wear suits "in the office" and uniforms only "on parade", which was the preference of Minister for Defence
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
Arthur Tange
Arthur Tange
Sir Arthur Harold Tange AC, CBE was a prominent Australian senior public servant of the middle to late 20th century....
. The military and public service wings of the department still clashed over the question of enlarging the CDFS' role to achieve more coherent defence planning. Shortly after McNamara completed his term as CDFS in 1984, the position became Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), and carried broader authority over the Australian armed services.
Retirement
Air Chief Marshal McNamara retired from military life in April 1984. He was awarded the Centenary MedalCentenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
on 1 January 2001 for his "service to Australian society through the Royal Australian Air Force". That year he joined celebrations at Point Cook, Victoria, to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the RAAF. McNamara published his autobiography, The Quiet Man, in 2005. He is commemorated by Sir Neville McNamara Drive in North Turramurra, New South Wales
North Turramurra, New South Wales
-Transport:The nearest train station is Turramurra railway station. Buses to North Turramurra are serviced by Shorelink at Turramurra train station. Shorelink bus route 577 runs through North Turramurra...
.
Further reading
- McNamara, Neville (2005). The Quiet Man: The Autobiography of Air Chief Marshal Sir Neville McNamara. Tuggeranong, ACT: Air Power Development Centre. ISBN 1-92-080007-7