Richard Bomball Explained

Air Vice Marshal Richard John Bomball, (born 13 October 1937) is a retired Royal Australian Air Force officer, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff – Development and former Commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy.

Early life

Born on 13 October 1937, in Richmond, Victoria, Bomball was educated at Mentone Grammar School and joined the Royal Australian Air Force on graduation.

Air Force career

• Entered – Royal Australian Air Force (1956)
• Trained at No. 1 Basic Flying Training School RAAF, Uranquinty and No. 1 Applied Flying Training School RAAF, Point Cook.
• Served – No. 25 Squadron, RAAF Pearce, WA (1957–1958), No. 78 Wing, RAAF Butterworth, Malaya (1958–1961), No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit (1964–1969), RAAF Staff College (1969), seconded to Department of Air (1969–1973), Joint Services Staff College (1975), Royal College of Defence Studies, London, (1987).
• Commanding Officer – No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Butterworth (1973–1974)
• Director of Staff – RAAF Staff College (1975–1978)
• Air Attaché – Australian Embassy, Tokyo (1978–1981)
• Director of Operational Requirements – Air Force – Department of Defence (1982–1983)
• Officer Commanding – RAAF Williamtown, New South Wales (1984–1986)
• Royal College of Defence Studies (1987)
• Promoted to Air Vice Marshal (1988)
• Assistant Chief of the Air Staff – Development (1988–1989)
• Commandant – Australian Defence Force Academy (5 March 1990–1993)^[1]

Flying experience: Over 5000 hours, mainly jet fighter aircraft, including Vampire, Sabre, Mirage, F105 Thunderchief, F/A 18. Flying qualifications: Qualified Flying Instructor, Fighter Combat Instructor.

Later life

Following his retirement from the Air Force, Bomball was appointed as the first Chairman of the Board of Newcastle Airport Limited in 1993, when control of the airport was transferred from the Commonwealth to joint control by Newcastle City Council and Port Stephens Council. He served until 2004. In 1994 he was appointed to serve on the Veterans' Compensation Review Committee by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, John Faulkner, subsequently co-authoring a report on compensation for veterans and war widows.^[2]

Honours

	Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)	AD 1990[3]
	Air Force Cross (AFC)	QB 1969[4]
		NY 1967 – Attached to GSM[5]
	Defence Force Service Medal with 4 clasps	for 35–39 years of service
	National Medal with First Clasp	QB 1977[6] /AD 1982[7] – for 25 years of service
	Pingat Jasa Malaysia (Malaysia)

Notes and References

1. Web site: BOMBALL, Richard John, AO 1990 AFC 1969. RAAF Air Power Development Centre. Department of Defence. 26 January 2017.
2. Web site: A fair go: report on compensation for veterans and war widows commissioned by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Senator the Honourable, John Faulkner. Flinders University. Department of Veterans' Affairs – Veterans' Compensation Review Committee. 26 January 2017. 1994.
3. Web site: BOMBALL, Richard John – Officer of the Order of Australia. It's an Honour database. Australian Government. 26 January 2017. 26 January 1990. In recognition of service to the RAAF as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Development.
4. Web site: BOMBALL, Richard John – Air Force Cross. It's an Honour database. Australian Government. 26 January 2017. 14 June 1969. Flying Instructor on fighter aircraft.
5. Web site: BOMBALL, Richard John – Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air . It's an Honour database. Australian Government. 26 January 2017. 1 January 1967.
6. Web site: BOMBALL, Richard John – National Medal. It's an Honour database. Australian Government. 26 January 2017. 14 July 1977.
7. Web site: BOMBALL, Richard John – National Medal – 1st Clasp. It's an Honour database. Australian Government. 26 January 2017. 25 January 1982.