Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Frank Bladin

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Frank Bladin[edit]

This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests).

The result was: pass by Gog the Mild (talk) 17:01, 8 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Frank Bladin, pictured in 1943
Frank Bladin, pictured in 1943

Frank Bladin was a senior commander in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Born in rural Victoria, he graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1920. He transferred to the Air Force in 1923 and took command of No. 1 Squadron in 1934. Ranked wing commander at the outbreak of World War II, by September 1941 Bladin was promoted to temporary air commodore. He became Air Officer Commanding North-Western Area in March 1942, earning the United States Silver Star. In 1943, Bladin was posted to No. 38 Group RAF in Europe and appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Promoted acting air vice marshal in 1946, Bladin was among the senior officers who helped reshape the post-war RAAF. His roles included Chief of Staff of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, Air Officer Commanding Eastern Area and Air Member for Personnel. Appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1950, he retired in 1953. He was active in veterans' affairs before his death in 1978. (Full article...)