Read, James Frederick (Flight Lieutenant, b.1913 - d.1987)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 413794 Flight Lieutenant James Frederick Read, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia and United Kingdom, 1941-1945.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of two folders of material relating to Flight Lieutenant Read.

Folder 1 of 2 contains one log book of Flight Lieutenant Read, with entries dated between 11 December 1941 and 18 May 1944. It covers the period of Flight Lieutenant Read’s initial training in Australia, further training in the United Kingdom, and advanced flying instruction with 20 Advanced Flying Unit, Royal Air Force. The entries record details such as dates and times of flights, aircraft types and numbers, other aircraft occupants, and purposes of flights. Some of the purposes recorded include general flying training, service flying training, advanced flying training, cross country flights, beam approach training, aircraft conversion, and flying instruction. This log book also includes training notes, certificates for courses completed, one coloured drawing, and one photograph depicting two women.

Folder 2 of 2 contains one log book of Flight Lieutenant Read, with entries dated between 18 May 1944 and 29 May 1945. It covers the period of Flight Lieutenant Read’s flight instruction in the United Kingdom and service with 128 Squadron. The entries record details such as dates and times of flights, aircraft types and numbers, other aircraft occupants, and purposes of flights. Some of the purposes include advanced flying instruction, decompression tests, refresher courses, aircraft conversion, operational training, and bombing operations targeting Germany. This log book also includes training notes, certificates for courses completed, and one coloured drawing.

Flight Lieutenant James Frederick Read enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 13 September 1941. He underwent training in New South Wales and Victoria, and graduated as a pilot in June 1942. Flight Lieutenant Read went on to complete further training in the United Kingdom and became an advanced flying instructor for Airspeed Oxford aircraft. In March 1945, he transferred to 128 Squadron, and flew de Havilland DH98 Mosquito aircraft in bombing operations against Germany. Flight Lieutenant Read returned to Australia in August 1945, and was discharged on 23 October 1945.