Lomas, Frederick Leslie (Squadron Leader, b.1914 - d.1972)

Places	Africa: Egypt Africa: North Africa, Libya Europe: Greece Europe: Greece, Crete Middle East: British Mandate of Palestine, Palestine Middle East: French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon, Syria Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Mascot Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Wagga Wagga, Forest Hill
Accession Number	PR03913
Collection type	Private Record
Record type	Collection
Measurement	Extent: 2 cm; Wallet/s: 1
Object type	Document
Maker	Commonwealth of Australia Lomas, Frederick Leslie
Place made	Australia
Date made	1941-1961
Access	Open
Conflict	Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright	Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain This item is in the Public Domain
Copying Provisions	Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required.

Description

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 400892 Frederick Leslie Lomas, 208 Squadron, 451 Squadron and 680 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia and the Middle East, 1941-1961.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Contains two folders of material relating to Squadron Leader Frederick Leslie Lomas.

Folder 1 of 2 consists of one log book of Squadron Leader Lomas, containing entries dated between 10 February 1941 and 10 December 1944. It covers the periods of Squadron Leader Lomas’ training, service with 208 Squadron in Egypt, service with 451 Squadron in Syria, training with 74 Operational Training Unit in Syria and Palestine, and service with 680 Squadron in Greece and the Middle East. The entries record details such as dates and times of flights, aircraft types and numbers, crewmembers, purposes of flights, and additional notes. Some of the purposes of flights include elementary, intermediate and advanced flying training, message dropping, search and rescue, patrols, aircraft tests, interceptions of enemy aircraft, operational training, and reconnaissance photography. This log book also includes certificates for assessments and courses completed and several pressed flowers.

Folder 2 of 2 consists of:
1x Statement of Service of Squadron Leader Lomas, issued by the Air Force Headquarters, 28 July 1948.
1x Letter from Mr Gavin Long, official war historian, to Squadron Leader Lomas, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 4 December 1941. In this letter, Mr Long asks Squadron Leader Lomas to clarify his details for the official history.

History / Summary

Squadron Leader Frederick Leslie Lomas enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 10 November 1940. After a period of training in New South Wales, he served with 208 Squadron in Egypt between October 1941 and January 1942. Squadron Leader Lomas then went on to serve with 451 Squadron between January 1942 and September 1942 in Syria and Palestine, and 680 Squadron between August 1943 and August 1944 in Greece and the Middle East. In January 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his distinguished flying in missions over the Western Desert. Squadron Leader concluded his service by flying with 2 Aircraft Delivery Unit and 2 FU. He was discharged on 17 December 1945.