The Air Board was established on 9 November 1920 under the Air Board Regulations, to control and administer the Air Force upon the policy laid down by the Air Council (CA 483). All conditions or decisions of the Board which involved an increase of expenditure, transfer of votes of expenditure, or any new principle affecting expenditure were to be referred to the Air Council for approval. The Board was to submit for the approval of the Air Council its conclusions, recommendations, or decisions upon all matters which the Council directed to its attention. It was to refer for the consideration of the Air Council such matters as it deemed necessary should be approved by higher authority or upon which there was a want of unanimity of opinion of the members of the Board.

In its corporate capacity, the Air Board was to submit recommendations for the approval of the Air Board on the following subjects:
(a) principles of organization of the Air Force;
(b) the distribution of the Air Force;
(c) the demands for aircraft of the Naval and Military
    Departments and the allocation of the Air Force to meet them;
(d) selections of air stations, aerodromes, landing grounds and 
    training stations;
(e) schemes for Air Force development;
(f) works and buildings not part of approved policy;
(g) training policy - the selection and distribution of schools
    and training establishments; and
(h) the selection of air staff of and above such ranks as the Air
    Council determined.

The members of the Board appointed on 12 November 1920 were:


Brevet-Major (Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel) R. Williams, DSO,
    OBE - Director of Intelligence and Organization.
Squadron Leader (Honorary Wing Commander) S.J. Goble, DSO,
    OBE, DSC - Director of Personnel and Training.
(c) Captain P.A. McBain, MBE - Director of Equipment.
(d) A.C. Joyce - Finance Member
(Commonwealth Australian Gazette No. 98 of 12 November 1920, p. 2097).

On 2 October 1922 the Air Board Regulations (Statutory Rules 1922, No. 161) were promulgated. These Regulations repealed the Regulations of 1920 which had established the Air Board. However, it appears that the Air Board itself was not abolished but merely that the Regulations governing its composition and functions were updated. The Board was now to consist of:-
(a) the First Air Member (Chief of Air Staff);
(b) the Second Air Member (Chief of Administrative Staff); and
the Finance Member.

The functions of the Board in its corporate capacity remained unchanged; the functions of the individual members were expanded.
On 31 December 1927 the Air Force Regulations (Statutory Rules 1927, No. 161) were promulgated, repealing the Air Board Regulations of 1922. The Air Board itself does not appear to have been abolished - the composition and function remained as before; the function of the individual members were, once again, expanded.
The Regulations of 1927 establishing the Board were repealed by Air Force Regulations (Statutory Rules 1933, No. 16) on 1 October 1929. Once again, the Board continued in existence. Its functions and composition were slightly altered. It was now to be composed of: 
(a) the Chief of Air Staff;
(b) the Air Member for Personnel;
(c) the Air Members for Supply; and
the Finance Member.

The Regulations cover the functions of the Board with the statement that it is charged with the control and administration of the Air Force. Since the Air Council was abolished on 8 March 1929, the Board from that time reported directly to the Minister.
On 11 March 1940 the membership of the Board was altered
(Statutory Rules 1940, No. 53). It was now to consist of:
(a) the Chief of the Air Staff;
(b) the Air Member for Organization and Equipment;
(c) the Air Member for Personnel;
(d) the Director-General of Supply and Production; and
the Finance Member.

By 1975 the composition of the Board was:
(a) the Chief of the Air Staff;
(b) Air Member for Personnel;
(c) Air Member for Technical Services;
(d) Air Member for Supply and Equipment; and
Special Deputy of Permanent Head, Department of Defence 
    (Air Office)
(Australian Government Directory 1975, p. 125)

The Air Board was abolished on 9 February 1976.
 

 1920-1961: Victoria Barracks, St Kilda Road, Melbourne 
 1961-1976: Russell Offices, Canberra, ACT

Creation: Air Board Regulations, Statutory Rules 1920, No. 223