Lachlan Thomas FAIRBAIRN

Lachlan Thomas FAIRBAIRN Update Details

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FAIRBAIRN, Lachlan Thomas

Service Number:	430820
Enlisted:	26 March 1943
Last Rank:	Flying Officer
Last Unit:	RAAF Transport and Movement Offices
Born:	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 25 February 1925
Home Town:	Essendon, Moonee Valley, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Bank clerk
Died:	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 11 July 2002, aged 77 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Ashes scattered at cemetery
Memorials:

World War 2 Service

26 Mar 1943:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 430820
26 Mar 1943:	Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman, 430820, No. 2 Initial Training School Bradfield Park, Enlisted in Melbourne for Citizen Air Force with Air Crew mustering, in rank of AC2.
19 Jun 1943:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School Benalla
25 Sep 1943:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, No. 7 Service Flying Training School Deniliquin, Underwent intermediate and advanced pilot training in Wirraway training aircraft.
13 Feb 1944:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, No. 2 Operational Training Unit Mildura, Appointed to Commission on probation.
13 Aug 1944:	Promoted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, No. 1 Wireless Air Gunnery School Ballarat
24 Apr 1945:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, RAAF Transport and Movement Offices, Posted to No. 7 Transportation and Movements Office, Vivigani Airfield, Goodenough Island, New Guinea.
9 Jun 1945:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, RAAF Transport and Movement Offices, Posted to No. 9 Transportation and Movements Office, Labuan.
18 Feb 1946:	Transferred Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, RAAF Transport and Movement Offices, Posted to No. 2 Transportation and Movements Office, Melbourne.
1 May 1946:	Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 430820

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Biography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS

Lachlan Thomas FAIRBAIRN was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on 25th February 1925, to parents Rose Mary Alice and Thomas George FAIRBAIRN.

A single 18 year old bank clerk living with his parents in Essendon at the time, Lachlan applied to join the RAAF Citizen Air Force at the No. 1 Recruiting Centre in Melbourne on 26th March 1943, having recently been promoted to Sergeant in the Air Training Corps. He was enlisted in the mustering of air crew with the rank of Aircraftman, service number 430820. Lachlan was posted to No. 2 Initial Training School in Bradfield Park, New South Wales, that same day.

On 19th June 1943, Lachlan was promoted to the rank of Leading Aircraftman, and began training at the No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School in Benalla, Victoria, a week later. On 25th September 1943, he was posted to No. 7 Service Flying Training School in Deniliquin, New South Wales. There he received intermediate and advanced pilot training in the single-engined Wirraway aircraft, and was awarded his Flying Badge (Pilot's wings) on 9th February 1944.

On 13th February 1944, Lachlan was appointed to a commission on probation, with the rank of Pilot Officer. Six days later he was posted to No. 2 Operational Training Unit in Mildura, Victoria, to complete No. 30 Fighter Operational Training Course. On 3rd April, Lachlan commenced flying duties as a staff pilot at No. 1 Wireless Air Gunnery School in Ballarat, Victoria. He was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer on 13th August 1944.

Lachlan was temporarily posted to No. 1 Personnel Depot, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on 10th October 1944. He then returned to No. 7 Service Flying Training School in Deniliquin on 17th November, to complete No. 3 Operational Training Qualification Course. On 7th December, Lachlan was again posted to No. 1 Personnel Depot.

On 18th April 1945, Lachlan was posted to No. 1 Reserve Personnel Pool in Aitkenvale, Queensland, to await an operational posting. Six days later, he arrived at No. 7 Transportation and Movements Office at Vivigani Airfield on Goodenough Island, New Guinea, where he was engaged in "administrative movements" duties. On 9th June 1945, he was posted to No. 9 Transportation and Movements Office on the island of Noemfoor, and later Labuan after the Allied invasion, where he served the remainder of the War as a movements pilot as part of the Administrative and Special Duties branch.

Following the end of the War, Lachlan was posted to No. 2 Transportation and Movements Office in Melbourne on 18th February 1946. His appointment as an Officer in the RAAF was terminated on 1st May 1946. For his service, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, 1939-45 War Medal and the Australia Service Medal, along with a Returned from Active Service badge.

Lachlan Thomas FAIRBAIRN died in Melbourne, Victoria, on 11th July 2002, aged 77. His ashes were scattered at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery in Melbourne.

Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia; Ryerson Index; and Find A Grave website.

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