Air Commodore Air commodore (Air Cdre or Air Cmde) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...

Leon Victor Lachal,

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(18 May 1904 – 12 March 1983) was a senior commander in the

Royal Australian Air Force The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal Air force, aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally the Governor-Gener ...

(RAAF). He served from 1926 until 1947, reaching the rank of

Life and career

Leon Victor Lachal was born on 18 May 1904, in

Abbotsford, Victoria Abbotsford () is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, north-east of Melbourne's Melbourne City Centre, Central Business District, located within the City of Yarra Local government areas of Victoria, loc ...

, Australia. He commanded several RAAF units throughout his career, including the No. 10 Squadron from 1939, the No. 3 Service Flying Training School from 1941, and the No. 5 Service Flying Training School in 1942. He also led the Eastern Area Command in 1945 and from 1946 to 1947. His service was recognised with the

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(CBE) award. Lachal died on 12 March 1983 in Melbourne at the age of 78.

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Lachel, Leon 1904 births 1983 deaths Australian aviators Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Military personnel from Melbourne People educated at Parade College Royal Australian Air Force officers Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II People from Abbotsford, Victoria