| Southern Area Command | |
|---|---|
&sq=Google&lang=en&file=File:RAAFAreaCommands1940.png) Provisional RAAF area command boundaries, February 1940 | |
| Active | 1940–53 |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Role | Air defence Aerial reconnaissance Protection of adjacent sea lanes |
| Garrison/HQ | Melbourne |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Henry Wrigley (1940) Adrian Cole (1940–41) Frank Bladin (1941) Ian McLachlan (1944–45) Charles Eaton (1945) Allan Walters (1948–50) Alan Charlesworth (1951–53) |
Southern Area Command was one of several geographically based commands raised by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during World War II. It was formed in March 1940, and initially controlled units located in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and southern New South Wales. Headquartered in Melbourne, Southern Area Command was responsible for air defence, aerial reconnaissance and protection of the sea lanes within its boundaries. From 1942 its operational responsibilities excluded New South Wales.
The area command continued to operate following the end of the war, becoming the hub of Air Force training services. In October 1953, the RAAF began reorganising its command-and-control system from one based on geography to one based on function; Southern Area was re-formed as Training Command, which in 2006 became Air Force Training Group, a component of RAAF Air Command.