Ray Funnell
| Raymond George (Ray) Funnell | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1 March 1935 Brisbane, Queensland |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/ |
Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1953–92 (39 years) |
| Rank | Air Marshal |
| Commands held |
|
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of Australia Commander of the Legion of Merit (US) |
| Other work | Principal, ACDSS (1994–98) |
Air Marshal Raymond George (Ray) Funnell, AC (born 1 March 1935) is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He served as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) from 1987 until 1992. A graduate of RAAF College, he began his career flying CAC Sabre jet fighters in Australia and South East Asia in the 1950s and 1960s. From 1972 to 1975 he commanded No. 6 Squadron, during which time the General Dynamics F-111C swing-wing bomber entered Australian service. He held senior staff posts in the early 1980s. In 1986, he was promoted to air marshal and became the inaugural Vice Chief of the Defence Force. Appointed CAS in July 1987, Funnell was closely involved in the development and dissemination of air power doctrine. He retired from the RAAF in October 1992 following his term as CAS, and was founding Principal of the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies from 1994 to 1998. Since then he has served on various Federal Government committees on immigration and detention.
Raymond George (Ray) Funnell was born on 1 March 1935 in Brisbane, Queensland, and educated at Brisbane State High School. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Air Training Corps in January 1949, and received a flying training scholarship. In 1951, aged 16, he learnt to fly with the Royal Queensland Aero Club. In January 1953 he entered RAAF College as an air cadet, graduating with distinction in 1956. He married his wife Suzanne in 1958; the couple had two sons. Funnell spent much of his early career flying CAC Sabre jet fighters at RAAF Bases Williamtown, New South Wales, and Butterworth, Malaysia, as well as Ubon, Thailand, and Labuan, East Malaysia. As a flight lieutenant in the early 1960s, he instructed on the de Havilland Vampire with No. 1 Applied Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia. In 1966 he served as commanding officer of No. 79 Squadron at Ubon.
...
Wikipedia