Q ), ▁British ▁Pacific ▁Fle et , ▁retain ing ▁this ▁position ▁until ▁ 1 ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁ ▁Post - war ▁career ▁The ▁Naval ▁Board ▁now ▁decided ▁to ▁send ▁Smith ▁to ▁the ▁Admir alty ▁in ▁London , ▁to ▁obtain ▁information ▁that ▁would ▁assist ▁in ▁the ▁planning ▁and ▁formation ▁of ▁a ▁Fle et ▁Air ▁Arm ▁( FA A ) ▁in ▁the ▁Royal ▁Australian ▁Navy . ▁He ▁returned ▁to ▁Australia ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 7 , ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Australian ▁Naval ▁A viation ▁Pl anning ▁Staff . ▁Government ▁appro val ▁for ▁the ▁formation ▁of ▁the ▁F AA ▁was ▁given ▁in ▁July , ▁and ▁Smith ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁commander ▁in ▁December . ▁The ▁F AA ▁was ▁officially ▁established ▁on ▁ 2 8 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 8 , ▁and ▁Smith ▁has ▁become ▁widely ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁" F ather ▁of ▁the ▁Fle et ▁Air ▁Arm ." ▁ ▁Smith ▁was ▁appointed ▁Executive ▁Officer ▁of ▁ ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 5 0 , ▁and ▁served ▁on ▁the ▁ship ▁during ▁its ▁six - month ▁tour ▁of ▁duty ▁in ▁the ▁Korean ▁War ▁between ▁August ▁ 1 9 5 1 , ▁and ▁February ▁ 1 9 5 2 . ▁During ▁this ▁time , ▁the ▁Fle et ▁Air ▁Arm ▁was ▁conduct ing ▁operations ▁over ▁Korea ▁from ▁Sydney ; ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁it ▁was ▁in ▁action . ▁In ▁April ▁ 1 9 5 2 , ▁Smith ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁command ▁the ▁Adv ance ▁Party ▁at ▁the ▁former ▁Royal ▁Australian ▁Air ▁Force ▁Air ▁Station