2021 $10 'C' Mintmark Gold Proof Coin - Centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force
Description
2021 $10 'C' Mintmark Gold Proof Coin - Centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force
Heroes of the Sky - Air Marshall Sir Richard Williams
The Royal Australian Air Force will mark its 100 year anniversary on March 31, 2021. More than 11,100 personnel lost their lives while serving in the RAAF, including 9870 during the Second World War,. The RAAF has about 14,000 personnel and 4500 reservists. Deployments in recent years have included the Middle East and post cyclone assistance to the Pacific.
Sir Richard Williams is considered one of the fathers of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Born in 1890 at Moonta Mines, SA, Williams joined the permanent military forces in 1912. He learnt to fly a Bristol Boxkite and was the first military pilot to qualify in Australia.
Williams served during the First World War from 1914-18 in the Australian Flying Corps.
In early 1917 he showed extraordinary gallantry on a flying mission attacking Turkish troops while under anti-aircraft fire. He once rescued a downed pilot from enemy territory.
He was the first RAAF Air Marshal and rose through the ranks to leadership positions.
In 1941 he was sent to England to command the RAAF’s overseas headquarters and later Washington.
Williams retired from the RAAF after the Second World War and became the Civil Aviation director general; a role he served for almost a decade. He was knighted in 1954.
• Coin’s reverse design commemorates the Centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force
• Displayed in a presentation case with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity
• Mintage 2021
• Coin’s obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II designed by Jody Clark
• Australian legal tender