A Lifetime of Service - AM Jake Newham (Retd)
Commemorating the life and career of Air Marshall John ‘Jake’ William Newham AC (Retd)
After a long illness, Air Marshall ‘Jake’ Newham AC passed away peacefully on 27 Decemb 2022. AFA Victoria Director of Communications Chris Hudnott reviews the Air Marshall’s 39 years in the RAAF and his contribution to society after leaving the Air Force.
John ‘Jake’ Newham was born in Cowra on 30 November 1930 and educated at Cowra High School. He was appointed school captain, was a senior under-officer of the school cadets and loved many sports. At his funeral service on 20 January 2023, his son Murray recalled that he was a country boy at heart, kind and generous, humble and very determined. He was inspired by the Battle of Britain and wanted to be a fighter pilot in the RAAF but his first application was unsuccessful due to a broken leg playing rugby. He successfully applied two years later and commenced pilot training at Point Cook in 1951 graduating as a sergeant pilot in July 1952.
After conversion to fighter aircraft, Newham saw active service in Korea, flying Meteor aircraft from February to September 1953. He later recalled that his first sortie was as wingman to an RAF Flight Lieutenant ‘who showed me enemy gun locations by arranging for them to shoot at us’. His next posting in 1953 was to garrison duties in Malta flying Vampire aircraft with No 78 (Fighter) Wing until 1955.
His promotion to Flight Lieutenant and conversion to Sabre aircraft took place in 1957 and he was posted to Malaya from 1958 to 1960 with No 3 Squadron. He attended Staff College in 1964 and was then appointed Chief Flying Instructor at No 2 Operational Conversion Unit. He qualified as a Fighter Combat Instructor and was Temporary Commanding Officer of that unit from July 1965 to April 1966. In August that year, he commenced conversion training on the Mirage III and following promotion to Wing Commander, he led No 3 Squadron at Williamtown in 1967 and 1968 as it re-equipped with the ground attack version of the Mirage aircraft.
In 1971, Newham was appointed commanding officer of the Aircraft Research and Development Unit and the following year became Officer Commanding RAAF Base Laverton. By now a Group Captain, he was appointed Officer Commanding No. 82 Wing at RAAF Base Amberley in 1973 which involved the introduction of the long-delayed F-111 aircraft and he led the arrival of the first three aircraft to land at Amberley on 1 June 1973. At that time the F-111 had a tarnished reputation but Air Marshal Newham believed in the aircraft and appreciated its strategic influence and capability.
Above left: Then Group Captain Jake Newham in 1973 talks to the waiting media after leading the ferry flight of six A8 F111s from Fort Worth, Texas, to Amberley, Australia. (image courtesy Department of Defence).
Above right: GPCAPT Newham and then WGCDR (later AIRCDRE) Trevor Owen in the cockpit of an F-111C. (image courtesy Air Power Australia)
At Air Marshall Newham’s funeral on 20 January, retired Air Marshall Ray Funnell AC (a former CO of 6 SQN) recalled that as Officer Commanding No. 82 Wing, Newham was responsible for introducing into service an advanced and controversial item of equipment without fuss or major incident and with a basis for development that was of enormous benefit to Australia during its 30 years of service – a task for which Funnell believed that Newham was never given the credit that he deserved.
In 1975, he was posted to Headquarters Operational Command as Staff Officer Operations (OPCOM) and was at the centre of some challenging RAAF operations including the evacuation of Darwin following Cyclone Tracy, the UN Peacekeeping contribution to Kashmir and the evacuation of Australians from Saigon during the fall of Vietnam including Operation Babylift, where Vietnamese orphans were flown to Australia.
Newham was promoted to Air Commodore in 1976 and became Senior Air Staff Officer at OPCOM, serving through the following year. In 1978 he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, and was made Director General of Operational Requirements in 1979. He was promoted air vice marshal and appointed Chief of Air Force Operations in March 1980, and served on the Chief of the Air Staff Advisory Committee. In 1982 he was posted to the United States as the Head of Australian Defence Staff in Washington, D.C. Upon returning to Australia, Newham became Deputy Chief of the Air Staff in March 1984 and was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia on 11 June for services to the RAAF.
Newham was promoted to Air Marshall and appointed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) on 21 May 1985, succeeding Air Marshal David Evans. On 9 June, he was raised to Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for service to the RAAF, ‘particularly as Chief of the Air Staff’. His term as CAS was marked by the Federal Government's decision to transfer the RAAF's battlefield helicopters to the Australian Army, against the recommendation of an independent committee. According to Air Force historians Alan Stephens and Keith Isaacs, ‘Newham protected the best interests of the Australian Defence Force by getting on with the business of effecting the transfer, notwithstanding the deep disappointment within his own service’.
Today, the legacies of Air Marshal Newham’s time as our Chief are still evident. The organisation of the Air Force into Force Element Groups, the establishment of Tindal and the bare bases, Jindalee over the horizon radar, air-to-air refuelling and AEW&C capabilities - all found a place in Australia’s strategic future through his advocacy while the Air Force’s Chief.
Air Marshall Newham retired from the Air Force in July 1987. Richard Kelloway, co-officiator at Newham’s funeral and aclose friend, spoke about his transition to corporate life with his appointment to the Board of the helicopter company, Helitech, where he continued to apply his business acumen and strategic leadership skills. Kelloway also spoke of Newham’s commitment to the Ryder-Cheshire Foundation which epitomised Newham’s lifelong essence of relieving suffering without discrimination and travelling widely to the Foundation’s homes in India, Papua New Guinea and throughout Australia. He continued his 12- year presidency of this charity until very late in his life. He was also Patron of the Victorian Division of the Air Force Association from 1986 until 2009.
Above: Reviewing the Guard of Honour at the Air Force Association Pilgrimage to Point Cook on 3 November 1991.
Air Marshall Newham was particularly known for his leadership style. Richard Kelloway spoke of his qualities such as warmth, high expectations, encouragement, determination and approachability. Air Marshall Funnell recalled that his style of management was characterised by leading with ‘a firm hand but a soft touch’ and was particularly good at recognising talent and steering it towards the desired goal. ‘He liked to believe in people, build them up, and give them a chance to excel’.
Above: Air Marshal John "Jake" Newham AC (Retd), former Chief of Air Staff stands for a minute silence after delivering The Ode on the No 1, 2, 3 and 4 Squadron Centenary parade held at RAAF Base Williamtown in 2016.
Air Marshall Robert Chipman, the current Chief of Air Force, commented during his address that, in 2012 when Air Marshall Newham was asked about his career highlight, his initial reply was ‘leading No 3 Sqn in its transition to the ground attack version of the Mirage’, but added that the greatest highlight was working and serving with people who make the Air Force what it is.
Air Marshall Newham’s son, Murray, perhaps best sums up his father’s character - “He was first and foremost a people person – the term ‘Gentleman Jake’ is a very common and heartfelt theme.”
Read RAAF Historian Martin James’ tribute to AM Newham here.
AM Jake Newham's 'In Memoriam' first appeared in the Autumn 2023 edition of AFA Victoria's CONTACT newsletter.