Frank Headlam (1914–1976) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force. He joined as an air cadet in 1934 and specialised in flying instruction and navigation before the outbreak of World War II. In April 1941, he became commanding 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 training commands, finishing the war a group captain. Headlam served as Officer Commanding North-Western Area in 1946, and was Director of Training from 1947 to 1950. In 1950–51, during the Malayan Emergency, he was stationed at Singapore as commander of No. 90 (Composite) Wing and, later, RAF Tengah. Promoted air vice-marshal, he successively held the positions of Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Operational Command, AOC No. 224 Group RAF during the Indonesia–Malaysia Konfrontasi, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, and AOC Support Command. He was appointed a Commander of 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 Australian Joint Services Staff. (Full article...)
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