Historical information
RAAF Base Laverton (now part of RAAF Williams after the merger with RAAF Point Cook) was one of Australia’s earliest and most important Air Force establishments, operating from the 1920s and playing a major role in training, aircraft testing, logistics, and wartime expansion.
The Laverton airfield was decommissioned in 1996, ending flying operations.
Much of the site has now been converted into a residential housing estate.
The Laverton site contains two Commonwealth Heritage‑listed precincts, Officers’ Mess and the Eastern Hangars & West Workshops precincts.
Significance
A Group Captain in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is a senior officer (Rank O‑6) whose core role is to command a base, a large wing, or a major organisational unit, with responsibility for operations, personnel, logistics, discipline, and strategic planning.
Physical description
A collection of 26 labelled Air Force Group Captains from the R.A.A.F. Laverton Base, ranging from October 1939 to Jan 1998
Inscriptions & markings
WGCDR J Murray MBE MC October 1939 to Jul 1940
GP Capt T Marsden. DSO Jul 1940 to Aug 1942
GP Capt J Murray MBE MC Aug 1942 to Aug 1946
GP Capt C Probert Aug 1946 to Aug 1950
GP Capt W Mason Aug 1950 to April 1951
GP Capt I Yeaman OBE April 1951 to April 1953
GP Capt J Martin Feb 1955 to Jul 1956
GP Capt J Lawson OBE April 1953 to Feb 1955
WGCDR D McKendry Jul 1958 to Oct 1960
GP Capt G Thomas OBE RAF Oct 1960 to Dec 1962
GP Capt I Yeaman OBE Dec 1962 to Sep 1963
GP Capt G Graham Sep 1963 to Dec 1965
GP Capt E Jackson OBE RAF Jul 1956 to Jul 1958
GP Capt D Boucher Dec 1965 to Dec 1969
GP Capt A Simpson Dec 1969 to Jan 1971
WGCDR J Fearn Jan 1971 to Jun 1971
GP Capt K. Casey Jun 1971 to Feb 1974
GP Capt K Rogers Mar 1974 to May 1976
GP Capt C Fagan May 1976 to Jan 1980
GP Capt A Furniss AM Jan 1980 to Jan 1981
GP Capt T Holyoake Jan 1981 to Feb 1983
GP Capt B Noonan Feb 1983 to Feb 1985
GP Capt P Newton Feb 1985 to Dec 1986
GP Capt A Spooner Dec1986 to Jan 1988
GP Capt C Makin Jan 1988 to Jan 1990
