Date of birth:

August 26th, 1898 (Caulfield/Victoria, Australia)

Date of death:

February 2nd, 1978

Service number:

O33

Nationality:

Australian

Air Vice-Marshal Frank Bladin was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
According to some sources he was the first Australian to be awarded the Silver Star.

Service:
Royal Military College 1917 - 1920
British army 1921 - 1922
1st C.A. Brigade R.A.G.A.

Promotions:
Flying Officer 30.1.1923
Flight Lieutenant 2.3.1927
Squadron Leader 5.11.1931
Wing Commander 12.3.1937
Group Captain (Temporary) 1.6.1940
Group Captain (Substantive) 1.6.1943
Air Commodore (Acting) 10.9.1941
Air Commodore (Temporary) 1.4.1942
Air Commodore (Substantive) 1.1.1947
Air Vice Marshal (Acting) 1.3.1946
Air Vice Marshal (Temporary) 1.1.1949
Air Vice Marshal (Substantive) 1.10.1948

Appointments
Adjudant F.T.S. 29.6.1925 - 10.10.1926
Deputy Director of Organisation and Staff Duties 1.8.1929 - 10.11.1929
Commanding Officer Training Squadron 12.11.1931 - 8.4.1934
Temporary Commanding Officer Flying Training School 30.12.1932 - 15.1.1933
Commanding Officer No. 1 Squadron 11.4.1934 - 14.12.1935
Officer Commanding Cadet Squadron 16.12.1935 - 14.1.1939
Staff Duties and Director of Operations and Intelligence 11.3.1940 - 1.8.1941
Senior Air Staff Officer S.A.H.Q. 2.8.1941 - 9.9.1941
Air Officer Commanding S.A.H.Q. 10.9.1941 - 14.12.1941
Assistant Chief of the Air Staff 15.12.1941 - 24.3.1942
Air Officer Commanding, N.W.A. H.Q. 25.3.1942 - 10.7.1943
Senior Air Staff Officer No. 38 Group R.A.F. Nov 1943 - Aug 1944
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff 21.10.1944 - 2.1.1946
Chief of Staff B.C.O.F. Japan 3.1.1946 - 29.6.1947
Air Officer Commanding E.A. H.Q. 11.11.1947 - 30.10.1948
Air Member for Personnel 24.11.1948 - 16.10.1953
Aide-de-Camp to Governor-general 1.8.1945 - 31.7.1948

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Rank:

Air Vice-Marshal

Awarded on:

June 8th, 1950

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Air Commodore

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Air Commodore

Awarded on:

June 8th, 1944

For his work to plan and co-ordinate British airborne operations on D Day

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Air Commodore

For gallantry in action over Kendari Airdrome, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies on June, 1920.
Leading a flight of five bombers on a mission to attack Kendari Airdrome, Air Commodore Bladin successfully brought them over the target, pressed home the attack and returned the flight to the home base.
Three enemy fighters were destroyed on the ground and several others seriously damaged, large fires were started in the dispersal areas and many of the buildings were razed. On the return trip the flight was attacked by nine enemy fighters but succeeded in driving them off without loss to themselves."

Recommended on 12 September 1942.

• Photo 1: Wikipedia (CC Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0)
• - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36544/supplement/2642
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35841/page/13
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38930/supplement/2809
  - Australian Dictionary of Biography - Francis Masson Bladin
  - The Herald Wo 19 Nov 1947
  - https://www.naa.gov.au/