 Born in Queensland , McNamara joined the RAAF during World War II and saw action in the South West Pacific , flying P @-@ 40 Kittyhawks . He also flew combat missions in Gloster Meteors during the Korean War . In 1961 , he was awarded the Air Force Cross for his leadership of No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit . He gained further operational experience heading the RAAF presence in Ubon , Thailand , in the late 1960s . Promoted to air commodore , McNamara was Commander RAAF Forces Vietnam , and Deputy Commander Australian Forces Vietnam , in 1971 – 72 , for which he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire . As Deputy Chief of the Air Staff in 1976 , he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia . Knighted while CAS in 1980 , he retired after completing his term as CDFS in 1984 . 
