Wikipedia:Today's featured article/February 21, 2024

Donald Hardman (21 February 1899 – 2 March 1982) was a senior Royal Air Force (RAF) commander. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and flew fighters over the Western Front, achieving nine victories to become a decorated ace. Between the wars he saw service with RAF squadrons in India and Egypt. At the outbreak of World War II, Hardman was a wing commander, attached to the Air Ministry. In 1944 he commanded No. 232 (Transport) Group during the Burma campaign. He served successively as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, Commandant of RAF Staff College, Bracknell, and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of RAF Home Command. He was knighted in 1952. Hardman was Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Australian Air Force from 1952 to 1954, and was responsible for reorganising its geographically based command-and-control system into a functional structure. After returning to Britain, he joined the Air Council in May 1954, and was promoted to air chief marshal the following year. He retired from the RAF in 1958.