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63-534: Air Commodore Arthur Henry Cobby , CBE , DSO , DFC & Two Bars , GM (26 August 1894 – 11 November 1955) was an Australian military aviator . He was the leading fighter ace of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) during World War I, despite seeing active service for less than a year. Born and educated in Melbourne , Cobby was a bank clerk when war broke out, and

126-655: A DFW reconnaissance plane, in February 1918, but this was credited only as "driven down" and not confirmed. Based in the Pas-de-Calais area, No. 4 Squadron supported Allied forces during the German spring offensive that commenced the following month. Cobby's aerial opponents included members of Baron von Richthofen's " Flying Circus ". On 21 March he shot down two of the formation's Albatros D.Vs , which were confirmed as his first official victories. Having proved himself

189-697: A mention in despatches . Acclaimed a national hero, Cobby transferred to the newly formed Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1921 and rose to the rank of wing commander . He left the Permanent Air Force (PAF) in 1936 to join the Civil Aviation Board , but remained in the RAAF reserve. Re-joining the PAF at the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Cobby held senior posts including Director of Recruiting and Air Officer Commanding North-Eastern Area . In 1943, he

252-407: A broad gold ring on both lower sleeves. The command flag of an air commodore has one narrow red band running through the centre and is rectangular with a cut-away section giving it two tails. It is the only RAF command flag of this shape and it is similar in shape to that of a Royal Navy commodore's broad pennant . The vehicle star plate for an air commodore depicts a single white star (air commodore

315-624: A go against me in this, because if so, if you feel that I have fallen down in my job, I will straight away ask to be recalled," to which they replied, "It has nothing to do with you." Cobby reported the incident to his immediate superior, Air Vice Marshal Bill Bostock, who informed the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Jones, and the Allied Air Forces Commander, Lieutenant General George Kenney . All made their way to Morotai and interviewed

378-523: A mistaken judgement made by officers at Cobby's headquarters that the island's airstrip could be rapidly repaired and used to support the Borneo campaign . The relegation of fighter units to what appeared to be strategically unimportant ground attack missions led to a crisis in morale that precipitated the so-called " Morotai Mutiny " in April 1945, when eight of Cobby's senior pilots, including Australia's leading ace in

441-451: A return to the front until the war ended in November, and was mentioned in despatches by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig the same month (gazetted 27 December). Though Cobby's final tally for the war is often given as 29 aircraft and 13 observation balloons destroyed, claim-by-claim analyses of his victories credit him with 24 aircraft and five balloons, for a grand total of 29, making him

504-629: A significant part in making safe General MacArthur 's flank during the Philippines campaign. Barry nevertheless found that Cobby had "failed to maintain proper control over his command", and that his removal as 1st TAF commander was justified. Air Force historian Alan Stephens later described it as "a personal and institutional tragedy that a genuinely great figure in RAAF history had to end his career in such circumstances". The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History contends that Cobby's "gallant service flying career ... became another victim of

567-594: A situation he found "unworkable". In the period 22–25 December 1944, 1st TAF flew 513 Kittyhawk and Beaufighter sorties against targets in Halmahera . The following month, it undertook a further 661 sorties against targets in Halmahera, Celebes , Morotai and the Vogelkop . The 1st Tactical Air Force RAAF is now either administered or directed by RAAF Headquarters (with Forward Echelon thrown in for luck), RAAF Command, GHQ, and

630-479: A talented and aggressive pilot, Cobby's leadership abilities were recognised with his appointment as a flight commander on 14 May 1918, and promotion to captain on 25 May. Described as "an imp of mischief", he personalised his Sopwith Camel by fitting it with aluminium cutouts of comic actor Charlie Chaplin . Cobby again scored two kills in one day on 30 May near Estaires , when he destroyed an Albatros and an observation balloon , and repeated this feat

693-453: Is Calais; the prefecture Arras is the second-most populous. As of 2019, there are 10 communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants: The economy of the department was long dependent on mining , primarily the coal mines near the town of Lens, Pas-de-Calais where coal was discovered in 1849. However, since World War II , the economy has become more diversified. The inhabitants of the department are called Pas-de-Calaisiens . Pas-de-Calais

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756-399: Is equivalent to a one-star rank) on an air force blue background. RAF air commodores are classed as air officers and as such have two rows of gold oak leaves on the peak of their service dress hats. The reigning monarch may appoint honorary air commodores for RAF flying squadrons and stations. For example, King Charles III is RAF Valley 's honorary air commodore and Winston Churchill

819-496: Is one of the most densely populated departments of France, but has no cities with over 100,000 residents: Calais has about 73,000 inhabitants. The remaining population is primarily concentrated along the border with the department of Nord in the mining district, where a string of small towns constitutes an urban area with a population of about 1.2 million. The centre and south of the department are more rural, but still quite heavily populated, with many villages and small towns. Although

882-591: Is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. Air commodore is immediately senior to group captain and immediately subordinate to air vice-marshal . It is usually equivalent to a commodore or a brigadier / brigadier general . The equivalent rank in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force , Women's Royal Air Force (until 1968) and Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (until 1980)

945-826: The Australian Imperial Force but his employer, the Commonwealth Bank , refused to release him as his position of clerk was considered an essential occupation. He eventually managed to join the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) on 23 December 1916, despite a professed lack of interest in flying. He became a founding member of No. 4 Squadron AFC , and embarked for England aboard RMS Omrah on 17 January 1917. No. 4 Squadron arrived in England in March 1917 to undergo training in preparation for service on

1008-609: The Battle of Arras (1917) and is Canada 's most important memorial in Europe to its fallen soldiers. Pas-de-Calais was also the target of Operation Fortitude during World War II , which was an Allied plan to deceive the Germans that the invasion of Europe at D-Day was to occur here, rather than in Normandy . Pas-de-Calais is in the current region of Hauts-de-France and is surrounded by

1071-539: The French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Calaisis , formerly English, Boulonnais , Ponthieu and Artois , this last formerly part of the Spanish Netherlands . Some of the costliest battles of World War I were fought in the region. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial , eight kilometres from Arras , commemorates the Battle of Vimy Ridge assault during

1134-673: The Military Cross on 3 June 1918 in recognition of his combat success and for being a "bold and skilful Patrol Leader, who is setting a fine example to his Squadron". The award was changed to a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), appearing in the London Gazette on 2 July. Cobby shot down three German aircraft on 28 June and was recommended for a bar to his DFC, highlighting his then-current tally of 15 victories. On 15 July 1918, he and another pilot dived on five Pfalz scouts near Armentières , Cobby accounting for two of

1197-635: The Western Front . Equipped with Sopwith Camels , the unit was sent to France in December. Cobby later admitted to being so nervous about the prospect of going into battle that "if anything could have been done by me to delay that hour, I would have left nothing undone to bring it about". When he did see combat against the German Luftstreitkräfte for the first time, he had only twelve hours solo flying experience. Cobby claimed an early victory, over

1260-507: The Air Staff ), described him as the unit's "natural leader in the air and in all off-duty activities"; his exploits made him a national hero. No. 4 Squadron was recognised as the most successful fighter squadron in France, accounting for as many as 220 victories. In September 1918, Cobby was transferred to a training unit in England, where he found the strain of instructing pupils "much worse than flying in France". He continued applying for

1323-585: The Australian uniform has remained unbeaten. Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams, Director General of Civil Aviation from 1946 to 1955 and widely regarded as the "Father of the RAAF", described Cobby as "a man whose personal story is threaded through the entire history of Australian service and civil aviation". One of the aluminium cutouts of Charlie Chaplin that Cobby attached to his Sopwith Camel in World War ;I later went on show at RAAF Museum , Point Cook, and

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1386-608: The Civil Aviation Board (by then the Department of Civil Aviation ) after leaving the RAAF and served as Regional Director, New South Wales, from 1947 to 1954. He was appointed Director of Flying Operations early the following year. On Armistice Day , 11 November 1955, Cobby collapsed in his Melbourne office and died later that day of hypertensive cerebrovascular disease at Heidelberg Repatriation General Hospital . His wife and children survived him. On 15 November, he

1449-606: The Commanding General, 13th Air Force. I do not relish the role of the Duke of Plaza Toro. By early 1945, Japanese air power in the South West Pacific had been virtually destroyed, and 1st TAF was increasingly assigned to garrison duties and harassing enemy bases on islands bypassed by US forces in their advance on the Philippines . During March and April, 1st TAF prepared for the invasion of Tarakan , an operation based around

1512-519: The Permanent Air Force following the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. Promoted to group captain , he officially returned to active service on 25 July 1940 as Director of Recruiting, a role that traded on his public image. On 25 August 1942, Cobby took over from Air Commodore Frank Lukis as Air Officer Commanding (AOC) North-Eastern Area in Townsville , Queensland. 1942 also saw

1575-702: The RAAF's major mobile strike force in the South West Pacific , consisting of fighter , close support , and airfield construction units. Cobby expressed misgivings concerning the command arrangements that saw RAAF Headquarters in Melbourne responsible for No. 10 OG's administration, while its operational tasking was to be passed down through RAAF Command , the United States Thirteenth Air Force and Headquarters South West Pacific Area. He believed this required him to "try and serve two masters",

1638-842: The United Kingdom. Air commodore-in-chief is not a rank and such an appointment does not convey the rank of air commodore upon the recipient. Pas-de-Calais Inhabited since prehistoric times, the Pas-de-Calais region was populated in turn by the Celtic Belgae , the Romans , the Germanic Franks and the Alemanni . During the fourth and fifth centuries, the Roman practice of co-opting Germanic tribes to provide military and defence services along

1701-547: The afternoon, he was taking his 50-strong aerial formation through a series of wild stunts over the alarmed Prince's head, and later told the story that he flew so close to the marching soldiers that their bayonets almost pierced his undercarriage. Cobby later said that this was: "probably the most foolish thing I have ever done". He returned to Australia in May 1919, and married Hilda Maude Urban in Caulfield , Victoria, on 24 April 1920;

1764-634: The cadet organisation as the Commandant Air Cadets . On 1 April 1918, the newly created RAF adopted its officer rank titles from the British Army , with officers at what is now air commodore holding the rank of brigadier-general . In response to the proposal that the RAF should use its own rank titles, it was suggested that the RAF might use the Royal Navy's officer ranks , with the word "air" inserted before

1827-454: The citation for the award declared that "The success of these two raids was largely due to the determined and skilful leadership of this officer". The most successful air fighter is the most aggressive; but at the same time, a cool head and a fine sense of judgement are essential. By the end of his active service, Cobby was in charge of Allied formations numbering up to 80 aircraft. Fellow No. 4 Squadron ace, George Jones (later Chief of

1890-622: The couple had a son and a daughter. Following the disbandment of the AFC, Cobby joined the newly formed Royal Australian Air Force in 1921. Ranked flying officer (honorary flight lieutenant ), he was one of the original 21 officers on the air force's strength at its formation that March. His first posting, along with most of his colleagues, was to a mixed squadron equipped primarily with S.E.5s and DH.9s at No. 1 Flying Training School , based at RAAF Point Cook . Flight Lieutenant Cobby became Commanding Officer (CO) of No. 1 Squadron when it

1953-551: The department saw some of the heaviest fighting of World War I , its population rebounded quickly after both world wars. However, many of the mining towns have seen dramatic decreases in population, some up to half of their population. Population development since 1801: The president of the Departmental Council is Jean-Claude Leroy, elected in 2017. In the second round of the French presidential elections of 2017 Pas-de-Calais

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2016-674: The departments of Nord and Somme , the English Channel , and the North Sea . It shares a maritime border with the English county of Kent in the United Kingdom halfway through the Channel Tunnel . The principal rivers are the following: Its principal towns are, on the coast, Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer , and in Artois, Arras , Lens , Liévin , and Béthune . The most populous commune

2079-447: The enemy aircraft and his companion for one. The Australians were then pursued by four Fokker Triplanes but managed to evade their attackers. This action earned Cobby a recommendation for a second bar to his DFC, the citation noting that he had scored 21 kills to date and had "succeeded in destroying so many machines by hard work and by using his brains, as well as by courage and brilliant flying". The two bars to his DFC were gazetted on

2142-788: The formation of the North Australian Survey Flight from staff and aircraft of No. 1 Squadron in April 1935. The resulting surveys of Queensland and the Northern Territory provided valuable input for the establishment of military airfields and other installations following the outbreak of World War II. Restless in the inter-war years, Cobby retired from the Air Force to join the Civil Aviation Board as Controller of Operations in 1936; he also contributed to aviation magazines such as Australian Airmen and Popular Flying . His civil aviation duties included aircraft inspection,

2205-475: The highest-scoring member of the AFC, as well as the service's only "balloon-busting" ace . His proudest boast was that as a flight commander he never lost a pilot over enemy territory. Still instructing in England following the end of the war, Cobby was chosen to lead the AFC's Anzac Day flypast over London before the Prince of Wales on 25 April 1919, in concert with a parade by Australian soldiers. By 2:30 in

2268-413: The honorary rank. In such cases the individual is made an honorary air commandant and they retain their regular rank. Larger air force organisations or formations may be honoured by having an air commodore-in-chief appointed in their name. These RAF appointments are rare and to date (2020) have been given to just five senior members of the royal family, of whom three were reigning or future monarchs of

2331-435: The inhabitants to the south spoke Picard , a variety of Romance dialects . This linguistic border is still evident today in the toponyms and patronyms of the region. Beginning in the ninth century, the linguistic border began a steady move to north and the east, and by the end of the 15th century Romance dialects had completely displaced those of Dutch . Pas-de-Calais is one of the original 83 departments created during

2394-463: The issuing of licences and airworthiness certificates, maintenance of radio and meteorological services, and RAAF liaison. After the creation of a new Department of Civil Aviation in November 1938, the Civil Aviation Board was reorganised and Cobby's position was made redundant. Cobby was a member of the Citizen Air Force (RAAF reserve) during his time with the Civil Aviation Board, and rejoined

2457-520: The naval rank title. Although the Admiralty objected to this simple modification of their rank titles, it was agreed that the RAF might base many of its officer rank titles on Navy officer ranks with differing pre-modifying terms. It was also suggested that air-officer ranks could be based on the term "ardian", which was derived from a combination of the Gaelic words for "chief" ( ard ) and "bird" ( eun ), with

2520-417: The next day in the same area. He had been responsible for downing No. 4 Squadron's first balloon at Merville earlier in May; although vulnerable to attack with incendiary bullets , these large observation platforms, nicknamed Drachen (Dragons), were generally well protected by enemy fighters and anti-aircraft defences , and were thus considered a dangerous but valuable target. Cobby was recommended for

2583-451: The pilots involved, and all concluded that Cobby should be relieved of his command. Bostock held Cobby responsible for the "dangerously low level" of morale in 1st TAF, but also noted "it is clear that he has been badly served by his senior staff". In the event, Jones transferred not only Cobby but also his staff officers, Group Captains Gibson and Simms, and Air Commodore Frederick Scherger took over command on 10 May. Cobby's departure

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2646-584: The place was cleaned up. Having handed over to Squadron Leader Bill Bostock on 22 November 1931, Cobby was promoted to wing commander on 1 May 1933 and subsequently served as RAAF Director of Intelligence. In this position he headed an interdepartmental committee that was formed in August 1933 to examine the possibilities of air survey and aerial photography to further national development. The committee's findings, presented in April 1934, favoured employing government agencies for such work and ultimately led to

2709-473: The position of No. 3 Squadron commander doubled as CO of the base. Though popular with his staff, Cobby was not known for his attention to detail. In December 1930, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Commodore Richard Williams , arrived for an inspection and found the base to be in such a state of untidiness that he ordered every man on parade and gave them what was described as "an almighty dressing down", threatening that Christmas leave would be cancelled unless

2772-463: The present-day RAF, air commodores typically hold senior appointments within groups , acting directly in support of the air officer commanding . However, during the inter-war period, and in the case of the contemporary No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group , the air officer commanding held or holds air commodore rank. In the Air Training Corps , an appointed air commodore holds ultimate authority over

2835-516: The publication of High Adventure , Cobby's account of his experiences in World War I; the foreword was written by Air Vice Marshal Jones, newly appointed Chief of the Air Staff and fellow No. 4 Squadron veteran. Cobby was promoted to temporary air commodore in July 1943. On 7 September, he was travelling as a passenger on a Catalina flying boat when it crashed at Townsville. Although himself injured, Cobby helped rescue two other survivors, and

2898-425: The route from Boulogne-sur-Mer to Cologne created a Germanic - Romance linguistic border in the region that persisted until the eighth century. Saxon colonization into the region from the fifth to the eighth centuries likely extended the linguistic border somewhat south and west so that by the ninth century most inhabitants north of the line between Béthune and Berck spoke a dialect of Middle Dutch , while

2961-522: The same day, 21 September. On 16 August, Cobby led a bombing raid against the German airfield at Haubourdin , near Lille , the largest aerial assault by Allied forces up until then, resulting in 37 enemy aircraft being destroyed. The following day he led a similar attack on Lomme airfield and was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order as a result. Gazetted on 2 November,

3024-618: The tail skid of one of his victims was displayed at the Australian War Memorial , Canberra. Cobby Street, in the Canberra suburb of Campbell , is named in his honour. Air Commodore Air commodore ( Air Cdre or Air Cmde ) is a air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force . The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it

3087-476: The term "fourth ardian" or "flight ardian" being used for the equivalent to brigadier-general and commodore. However, the rank title based on the Navy rank was preferred and air commodore was adopted in August 1919. The rank insignia is a light-blue band on a broad black band worn on both the lower sleeves of the tunic or on the shoulders of the flying suit or the casual uniform. On the mess uniform , air commodores wear

3150-563: The war, Group Captain Clive Caldwell , tendered their resignations in protest. Although one of the "mutineers", Group Captain Wilf Arthur , had earlier voiced his concerns to Cobby and his headquarters staff regarding the efficacy of 1st TAF's tasking, the AOC was taken aback by the resignations. He spoke to the officers individually and as a group, asking them, "Is this something against me, or having

3213-473: The weaknesses and feuding within the RAAF's senior leadership during the Pacific War". Stephens summed up Cobby's military career by saying "No Australian airman's experience better illustrates the tensions between 'command', 'leadership' and 'heroism'", concluding that "the qualities that make a hero do not easily translate into those needed by a commander, although they are likely to engender leadership". Cobby

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3276-402: Was 615 Squadron 's honorary air commodore. As the title suggests, this is an honorary position bestowed by the reigning monarch and it does not grant the recipient command of a unit or formation. It is designed to strengthen the bond between the military unit and the individual and promote the role of the air force amongst the public. Serving officers may be granted an equivalent appointment to

3339-601: Was "air commandant". The rank was used in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) until the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces , when army-type rank titles were adopted. Canadian air commodores then became brigadier-generals . In official Canadian French usage, the rank title was commodore de l'air . The position of honorary air commodore still exists in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets . In

3402-640: Was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his conduct of air operations over New Guinea as AOC North-Eastern Area, the citation noting his "good leadership, personal example, keen understanding and continued encouragement". In August 1944, Cobby became AOC of No. 10 Operational Group (No. 10 OG), soon to be renamed the Australian First Tactical Air Force (1st TAF). In this role he commanded 20,000 personnel in

3465-509: Was awarded the George Medal for rescuing fellow survivors of an aircraft crash. He was appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 10 Operational Group (later Australian First Tactical Air Force ) the following year, but was relieved of his post in the wake of the " Morotai Mutiny " of April 1945. Retiring from the Air Force in 1946, Cobby served with the Department of Civil Aviation until his death on Armistice Day in 1955. Arthur Henry Cobby

3528-420: Was born in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran to Arthur Edward Stanley Cobby, a tram conductor, and his wife Alice. Known as Harry, the young Cobby completed his senior-level education at University College, Armadale , before being commissioned into the 46th Infantry (Brighton Rifles), a militia unit, in 1912. He later transferred to the 47th Infantry. When World War I broke out, Cobby attempted to enlist in

3591-544: Was given a military funeral at St Mary's Church of England, Caulfield, and cremated at Springvale Crematorium. Harry Cobby's tally of victories in World War I was the highest by a member of the Australian Flying Corps (the top-scoring Australian aces of the war, Robert A. Little and Roderic (Stan) Dallas , flew with the British Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force ). His record as an ace wearing

3654-519: Was greeted with relief by Australian Army commanders, who were frustrated by the poor working relationship between 1st TAF and the Army units at Tarakan. Cobby defended his leadership of 1st TAF at the subsequent inquiry before Judge John Vincent Barry . During his testimony he declared that although his officers "wished to do more in the war than they were doing ... it was not within the power of 1st T.A.F. to give them that more important or more interesting work". He believed that his forces had played

3717-424: Was officially discharged from the Air Force on 19 August 1946. He was awarded the American Medal of Freedom on 15 April 1948, in recognition of his war service. The citation noted that from September 1944 to January 1945, he displayed "exceptionally sound judgement and far sighted planning ... and materially assisted in support of the operations in the Philippine Liberation Campaign". Cobby had rejoined

3780-428: Was one of only two departments in which the candidate of the Front National , Marine Le Pen , received a majority of the votes cast: 52.06%. There are currently two public universities in the department. Although it is one of the most populous departments of France, Pas-de-Calais did not contain a university until 1991 when the French government created two universities: ULCO (Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale) on

3843-401: Was prevented by his employer from enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force until 1916. After completing flight training in England, he served on the Western Front with No. 4 Squadron AFC , operating Sopwith Camels . He was credited with 29 aerial victories, and his achievements were recognised with the Distinguished Service Order , the Distinguished Flying Cross and two bars , and

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3906-413: Was recommended for the George Medal for his "outstanding bravery". The award was gazetted on 10 March 1944. Cobby handed over command of North-Eastern Area in November 1943, and the following month was posted to Mount Martha , Victoria, as the Commandant of the RAAF Staff School (later RAAF Staff College ), remaining in the post until he was fully recovered from his injuries. On 16 June 1944, he

3969-414: Was reformed at Point Cook on 1 July 1925, serving in the position until August 1926. By 1927, Cobby had been promoted to squadron leader , and the following year went to England to attend RAF Staff College, Andover . Returning to Australia, he took over as CO of No. 3 Squadron at RAAF Station Richmond , New South Wales, from Squadron Leader Frank Lukis on 13 January 1930. At this time,

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