 In 1961 McNamara was posted to England as senior air staff officer at RAAF Overseas Headquarters , London , and then in 1964 was appointed Director of Personnel ( Officers ) at the Department of Air . He received the Air Efficiency Award in 1965 , and the following year took command of RAAF Ubon , Thailand . Operating under the provisions of the SEATO agreement during the early years of the Vietnam War , the Australian contingent included No. 79 Squadron , flying Sidewinder @-@ equipped CAC Sabres . Although only fifty kilometres from the Laotian border and occasionally scrambled to intercept North Vietnamese fighters , the Sabres never saw action , in contrast to their USAF brethren also based at Ubon . Limited as its military role was , however , the RAAF presence was judged politically valuable . After completing his tour in Thailand , McNamara served as air staff officer at RAAF Base Richmond , New South Wales , until 1968 , before being appointed Director General Organisation at the Department of Air . 
