WACKETT, Lawrence James
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 2 January 1896 |
| Home Town: | Townsville, Townsville, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Mundingburra SS, Townsville Grammar, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Lieutenant, Permanent Forces |
| Died: | St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia , 18 March 1982, aged 86 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Townsville Grammar School WWI Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Jul 1915: | Enlisted Lieutenant, No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 1916: | Embarked Lieutenant, No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, HMAT Orsova, Melbourne | |
| 16 Mar 1916: | Involvement Lieutenant, No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Apr 1916: | Involvement Lieutenant, No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations | |
| 20 Apr 1917: | Involvement Captain, Transferred to Orfordness Experimental Station, England | |
| 20 Apr 1917: | Promoted Captain, No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps | |
| 14 Jun 1918: | Transferred Captain, No. 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Involvement Captain, No. 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, AFC / RFC operations Western Front / Middle East | |
| 10 Oct 1918: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross, AFC / RFC operations Western Front / Middle East | |
| 30 Dec 1918: | Promoted Major, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) | |
| 6 Oct 1919: | Honoured Air Force Cross, AFC / RFC operations Western Front / Middle East |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
An officer with the Permanent Forces, Lt Lawrence James Wackett enlisted on 6 January 1916. He embarked with C Flight, No. 1 Squadron from Melbourne aboard HMAT Orsova (A67) on 16 March 1916.
During his service with No. 1 Squadron in Sinai & Palestine and later No. 3 Squadron on the Western Front, he flew on operations involving reconnaissance, bombing, strafing, air to air combat and aerial photography.
For his service Wackett was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Force Cross. With the rank of Major he returned to Australia in November 1919.
Following the war, Wackett continued his career in aviation by joining in the newly formed RAAF, qualifying as an aeronautical engineer. He commanded the RAAF Experimental Section in Sydney where he was worked on the design and construction of aircraft.
Later he joined the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation becoming its general manager. There he was involved in the conception and design of aircraft such as the Wackett trainer and Boomerang fighter. Lawrence Wackett was knighted in 1954 and died on 18 March 1982.
Source: AWM
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