Frank Headlam (19141976) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force

. He joined as an air cadet in 1934 and specialised in flying instruction and na

vigation before the outbreak of World War II. In April 1941, he became commandin
g officer of No. 2 Squadron and saw action against Japanese forces in the South
West Pacific. After returning to Australia, he held staff appointments and train
ing commands, finishing the war a group captain. Headlam served as Officer Comma
nding North-Western Area in 1946, and was Director of Training from 1947 to 1950
. In 195051, during the Malayan Emergency, he was stationed at Singapore as comma
nder of No. 90 (Composite) Wing and, later, RAF Tengah. Promoted air vice-marsha
l, he successively held the positions of Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Operationa
l Command, AOC No. 224 Group RAF during the IndonesiaMalaysia Konfrontasi, Deputy
Chief of the Air Staff, and AOC Support Command. He was appointed a Commander o
f the Order of the British Empire in 1958 and Companion of the Order of the Bath
in 1965, and retired in 1971 following a posting to London as Head of the Austr
alian Joint Services Staff. (Full article...)
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