Linda Corbould

Corbould was raised in Tasmania, Australia and joined the RAAF at 18, in 1981. At this time she wanted to become a pilot, but women were barred from this role. In a 2018 interview, Corbould said that the recruitment officers "pretty much laughed at me" when she told them about her ambition.[1] Instead, she served as an air traffic controller until 1990 when pilot training was opened up to women.[2] During this period she took up skydiving, and became a national champion in the sport, representing Australia at the 1985 skydiving world championships, held in Turkey.[2]

After completing flight training, Corbould became the third female member of the RAAF to gain her 'wings'[2] and was subsequently posted to No. 36 Squadron and flew C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Corbould served as deputy commander of the C-130 Hercules detachment which formed part of the Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for planning and commanding a flight into Baghdad on the night of 12/13 April 2003.[3][4] In October 2003 she met United States President George W. Bush during his visit to Australia.[5] Corbould eventually amassed 15 years of experience as a C-130 pilot.[6] She completed a Diploma of Military Studies at the Australian Command and Staff College during 2005.[7]

In 2006, Wing Commander Corbould oversaw the RAAF's program to accept the C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft into service.[6][8] She assumed command of No. 36 Squadron RAAF on 17 November 2006 and delivered the RAAF's first C-17 from the United States to Australia on 4 December 2006.[2][9][10] Corbould completed her posting as commander of the squadron on 8 December 2008.[11] On this day she also led the RAAF's first all-female aircrew during a training flight.[12] The next woman to lead a RAAF flying squadron assumed command of No. 33 Squadron in December 2018,[13] and No. 36 Squadron did not have another all-female aircrew until August 2020.[14]

After completing her posting to No. 36 Squadron, Corbould was appointed the Senior Air Force Officer in Tasmania, a position she had requested.[6] She retired from the RAAF on 8 May 2011 after completing 30 years of service, but remained an officer in the Air Force Reserve.[7][15] In this role, as of 2018, she works with Australian Air Force Cadets.[1]

In July 2015 Corbould was the keynote speaker at a RAAF Association reunion in Launceston.[16] In November that year she was appointed a member of the Veterans' Review Board, which is an independent statutory authority that assesses decisions made by several Australian Government agencies concerning grants and pensions for ex-service personnel.[17]