Charles Read (RAAF officer)

Sir Charles Read
Sir Charles Read
	Official RAAF portrait of Air Marshal Read
Birth name	Charles Frederick Read
Born	9 October 1918; Sydney, New South Wales
Died	17 September 2014 (aged 95); Woolgoolga, New South Wales
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Royal Australian Air Force
Service years	1937–75
Rank	Air Marshal
Unit	No. 30 Squadron (1942)
Commands	No. 31 Squadron (1942–43); No. 77 Wing (1944–45); First Tactical Air Force (1945–46); No. 24 Squadron RAF (1950); Central Flying School (1952–53); No. 82 Wing (1957–60); RAAF Base Point Cook (1966–68); RAAF Base Richmond (1968–69); Chief of the Air Staff (1972–75);
Battles / wars	World War II South West Pacific Theatre North Western Area Campaign; Battle of Labuan; ; ;
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Companion of the Order of the Bath; Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Force Cross; Mentioned in Despatches;

Air Marshal Sir Charles Frederick Read, KBE, CB, DFC, AFC (9 October 1918 – 17 September 2014) was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He served as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) from 1972 to 1975. Born in Sydney, Read joined the RAAF in 1937, and began his career flying biplane fighters. As a Beaufighter pilot, he led No. 31 Squadron and No. 77 Wing in the South West Pacific during World War II. His achievements earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross and a mention in despatches, and he finished the war an acting group captain.

Read's post-war commands included the Australian First Tactical Air Force, No. 24 (Commonwealth) Squadron RAF, Central Flying School and No. 82 (Bomber) Wing. He was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1960. Following staff roles, Read took charge of RAAF Base Point Cook and the RAAF Academy in the mid-1960s, and later RAAF Base Richmond. In 1970 he was promoted to air vice marshal and became Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. He succeeded Air Marshal Sir Colin Hannah as CAS in March 1972, when the latter cut short his term as head of the Air Force to become Governor of Queensland. Air Marshal Read retired from the military in March 1975 and was knighted the following year.