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Talk:Leon Lachal

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Half Finished

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I’m not sure where to put this but I started work on his page and never finished it, this is what I had so far, I could find sources for all of it again too.

Early Life

Lachal was born 18 May 1904 in Hawthorn, Melbourne. The son of barrister Gustave Celestine Lachal and his wife Elizabeth (née McCaffrey). With the outbreak of the First World War his father volunteered and became a private in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment as a stretcher bearer serving at Gallipoli and the Middle East eventually becoming a sergeant. On 29th January 1918 his younger brother John/Jean got into difficulties swimming at sea and drowned aged nine. Raised as a Roman Catholic, Lachal attended Xavier College, competing for their successful rowing team.

Early military career

(Place holder) being an apprentice Lachal decided to enlist in the RAAF as Air cadet on 26 April 1926 completing his training approximately six months later. Promoted to Pilot officer on 1 November 1926 followed by Flying officer on 26 October 1927. With his recent promotions he was one of eight pilots sent with HMAS Albatross to find four missing pilots flying the Southern Cross after attempting to fly from Sydney to England. The survivors were found before the Albatross reached them though two other searchers died of dehydration after an engine problem forced them to land in the Tanami Desert.

Flying boats were still a newer invention and great attraction at several parades where Lachal flew in the late 1920s and early 1930s. One flight aboard the Supermarine Southampton in 1930 with members of the forestry department was used to survey forests with its accomplishments reported by one of the party:

“In little over an hour’s observation details had been secured which would have taken six months by the ordinary method”.

On 1 July 1930 Lachal was promoted again this time to Flight Lieutenant as well as being given a permanent commission. Six years later he was once more promoted to Squadron leader and was given command of No. 5 Fleet Cooperation Squadron. In September 1936, Lachal headed an expedition to survey roughly 600 miles of mining fields within a fortnight using two Seagull amphibians.

In January 1937, the Minister for Defence, Sir Archdale Parkhill announced 25 members of the RAAF lead by Lachal would form part of the Australian contingent for the coronation of King Edward VIII. Following this he and Warrant Officer Boddison would remain in Britain for a further two months studying aircraft manufacturing at the Bristol Aeroplane Company, inspect the Vickers works at Southampton as well as being guests for Imperial Airways. Finally he was sent to RAF Pembroke Dock before returning home to Australia on the Orion in October 1937.

In March 1939 it was announced that Lachal would assume command of No. 14 Squadron at Pearce, Western Australia. In June of the same year he was placed in charge of the delivery of three Sunderland “flying fortresses” in September, before the delivery though he was once more promoted this time to Wing Commander. In October, King George VI and Queen Mary visited Australia and briefly met with Lachal among others.

Nighthawk189 (talk) 22:14, 13 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]