The Aircraft Production Commission was established on 21 March 1940 under the National Security (Aircraft Production Commission) Regulations. The Commission, consisting of a Chairman, two other full-time executive members, and three part-time members, was a statutory body reporting to the Minister for Supply and Development until 11 June 1940, and then to the Minister for Munitions until June 1941, when the separate Department of Aircraft Production was established with its own Minister.

The functions of the Commission were, broadly, to control the manufacture of aircraft and aero engines in Australia, with responsibility for maintaining and operating factories established or purchased by the Commonwealth for the production of aircraft; for making arrangements, agreements or contracts for the acquisition, manufacture or assembly of aircraft; for exercising full control over the manufacture of aircraft for or on behalf of or at the instance of the Commonwealth and of matters connected therewith or arising thereout; for arranging for the overhaul and repair of aircraft in places other than Air Force establishments; for arranging for the supply, either from within Australia or from overseas, of materials, tools, and equipment required by aircraft manufacturing undertakings under the control of the Commission; for developing local sources of supply of raw and fabricated materials for aircraft requirements; for controlling and limiting profits in relation to the manufacture of aircraft; and for giving effect to any such other powers and functions conferred or imposed by the Governor-General.

The membership of the Commission, as announced by the Minister of Supply and Development (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 5 of 21 March 1940, p. 703), was:- J.J. Shea and J.S. Storey (Persons experienced in aircraft engineering); R. Lawson, OBE (member of the Air Board); A.S.V. Smith (Chairman of the Contract Board); E.R. Mitchell, MC (Member experienced in finance).

The Department of Aircraft Production (CA 41) which was established on 26 June 1941 took over control of the Commission, this transfer of responsibilities being formalized by the National Security (Aircraft Production) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1941 No. 193, promulgated on 13 August 1941.

The constitution and details of organization of the Commission were retained until 6 January 1942, when the Aircraft Production Commission was abolished and under Statutory Rule No. 4 of 1942, National Security (Aircraft Production) Regulations, the production of aircraft was entrusted to the Director-General of Aircraft Production, Department of Aircraft Production, assisted by an Advisory Committee representative of the chief interests concerned in the Australian aircraft industry.

Source:
Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia No. 36, 1945-1946

Historical agency address
Subject to research

Legislation administered
Creation: National Security (Aircraft Production Commission) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1940, No. 55
Abolition: National Security (Aircraft Production) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1942, No.4