John Newham
Encyclopedia
Air Marshal
John William "Jake" Newham AC
(born 30 November 1930) is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force
, serving as its Chief of the Air Staff from 1985 until 1987.
, New South Wales, and educated at Cowra High School. He trained as a pilot in the RAAF at Point Cook in 1951 and after graduation was posted to undergo Fighter Training. He had extensive operational service overseas including flying Gloster Meteor
jet fighters with No. 77 Squadron
during the Korean War
in 1953. From 1953 to 1955 he flew Vampire fighters
with No. 78 Fighter Wing, conducting garrison duties in Malta. Newham married Jo Cranston in 1956; the couple had two daughters and a son.
From 1958 to 1960 Newham served in Malaya flying the CAC Sabre
with No. 3 Squadron
conducting operations in the Malayan Emergency
and Confrontation. He later qualified as an instructor and served as Chief Flying Instructor at No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit.
Newham held numerous command appointments during his service career. He was the Commanding Officer of the Aircraft Research and Development Unit, No 3 Squadron and the Western Australian University Squadron. Under the command of Newham, No 3 Squadron became the first unit to be equipped with the ground attack Mirage
. Newham also held the positions of Officer Commanding RAAF Base Laverton in Victoria and No. 82 Wing at RAAF Base Amberley. While in command of No. 82 Wing, Newham flew one of the first F-111C aircraft to Australia arriving in Amberley on 1 June 1973 having flown from McClellan AFB in the United States.
In 1971 he was appointed the Director of Personnel Services. In 1975 he was the Staff Officer Operations and then from 1976-1977 the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Operational Command. In 1978 he completed a course at the Royal College of Defence Studies and was appointed Director General of Operational Requirements in 1979.
On return to Australia in 1983 Newham was appointed Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia on 11 June 1984, for services to the RAAF. In 1985 he was promoted to Air Marshal upon appointment as the Chief of the Air Staff. On 9 June 1986, he was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia for service to the RAAF, particularly as Chief of the Air Staff.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1987, Newham became Director of Helitech Industries. On 23 July 1998, he was among those present when the Korean Ambassador to Australia awarded his government's Presidential Unit Citation to No. 77 Squadron.
Air Marshal (Australia)
Air marshal is the second highest active rank of the Royal Australian Air Force and was created as a direct equivalent of the British Royal Air Force rank of air marshal, it is also considered a three-star rank...
John William "Jake" Newham AC
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 30 November 1930) 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...
, serving as its Chief of the Air Staff from 1985 until 1987.
Early career
Newham was born in CowraCowra, New South Wales
Cowra is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia in the Cowra Shire. It is located on the Mid-Western Highway, 317 kilometres west of Sydney on the banks of the Lachlan River at an altitude of 310 metres above sea level. At the 2006 census Cowra had a population of 8,430...
, New South Wales, and educated at Cowra High School. He trained as a pilot in the RAAF at Point Cook in 1951 and after graduation was posted to undergo Fighter Training. He had extensive operational service overseas including 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...
jet fighters with 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:...
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 1953. From 1953 to 1955 he flew Vampire fighters
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...
with No. 78 Fighter Wing, conducting garrison duties in Malta. Newham married Jo Cranston in 1956; the couple had two daughters and a son.
From 1958 to 1960 Newham served in Malaya flying the CAC Sabre
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....
with No. 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAAF
No. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. It was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales.-World War I:...
conducting operations in the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
and Confrontation. He later qualified as an instructor and served as Chief Flying Instructor at No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit.
Newham held numerous command appointments during his service career. He was the Commanding Officer of the Aircraft Research and Development Unit, No 3 Squadron and the Western Australian University Squadron. Under the command of Newham, No 3 Squadron became the first unit to be equipped with the ground attack Mirage
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...
. Newham also held the positions of Officer Commanding RAAF Base Laverton in Victoria and No. 82 Wing at RAAF Base Amberley. While in command of No. 82 Wing, Newham flew one of the first F-111C aircraft to Australia arriving in Amberley on 1 June 1973 having flown from McClellan AFB in the United States.
In 1971 he was appointed the Director of Personnel Services. In 1975 he was the Staff Officer Operations and then from 1976-1977 the Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Operational Command. In 1978 he completed a course at the Royal College of Defence Studies and was appointed Director General of Operational Requirements in 1979.
Senior command and later life
In 1980 Newham was appointed Chief of Air Force Operations and in 1982 was posted to the United States as the Head of Australian Defence Staff Washington.On return to Australia in 1983 Newham was appointed 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...
. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia on 11 June 1984, for services to the RAAF. In 1985 he was promoted to Air Marshal upon appointment as the Chief of the Air Staff. On 9 June 1986, he was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia for service to the RAAF, particularly as Chief of the Air Staff.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1987, Newham became Director of Helitech Industries. On 23 July 1998, he was among those present when the Korean Ambassador to Australia awarded his government's Presidential Unit Citation to No. 77 Squadron.