Air Board (Australia)

rdf:langString Air Board (Australia)

rdf:langString Australian Air Board

rdf:langString Chief of the Air Staff Advisory Committee

rdf:langString Air Force Ensign of Australia .svg

rdf:langString Australian Air Board

rdf:langString Australian Air Council

rdf:langString The Air Board, also known as the Administrative Air Board, or the Air Board of Administration, was the controlling body of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from 1921 to 1976. It was composed of senior RAAF officers as well as some civilian members, and chaired by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). The CAS was the operational head of the Air Force, and the other board members were responsible for specific areas of the service such as personnel, supply, engineering, and finance. Initially based in Melbourne, the board relocated to Canberra in 1961. Formed in 1920, the Air Board's first task was to establish the air force that it was to administer; this took place in March 1921. The board was initially controlled by an Air Council, which included the chiefs of the Army and Navy; after the council's dissolution in 1929 the Air Board had equal status with the other service boards, reporting directly to the Minister for Defence. According to Air Force Regulations, the Air Board was collectively responsible for administering the RAAF, not the CAS alone. In 1976 the Air Board was dissolved and the CAS was invested with the individual responsibility for commanding the RAAF; the board was succeeded by the Chief of the Air Staff Advisory Committee, but the CAS was not bound by its advice.