John William "Jake" Newham | |
|---|---|
 Pilot Officer Newham boarding a Vampire jet in Malta, 1953 | |
| Born | 30 November 1930 Cowra, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 27 December 2022 (aged 92) |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1951–1987 |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Unit |
|
| Commands |
|
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of Australia Air Medal (US) |
| Other work | Company director |
Air Marshal John William "Jake" Newham, AC (30 November 1930 – 27 December 2022) was a senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He served as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) from 1985 until 1987. Joining the RAAF in 1951, he flew Gloster Meteor jets with No. 77 Squadron in the Korean War in 1953, and subsequently de Havilland Vampires with No. 78 Wing on garrison duty in Malta. From 1958 to 1960, he served with No. 3 Squadron, operating CAC Sabres during the Malayan Emergency. He took charge of No. 3 Squadron in 1967, when it re-equipped with the Dassault Mirage III supersonic fighter. His commands in the early 1970s included the Aircraft Research and Development Unit, RAAF Base Laverton, and No. 82 Wing, the last-mentioned during its first years operating the long-delayed General Dynamics F-111C swing-wing bomber. He was appointed Deputy Chief of the Air Staff in March 1984, and CAS in May the following year. His tenure as CAS coincided with the release of the Dibb Report on Australia's defence capabilities, and the controversial transfer of the RAAF's battlefield helicopters to the Australian Army. Newham retired from the Air Force in July 1987 and became a company director.