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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-02-03 Daily Xml
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Leak, Mr D.R.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:13): I rise today to honour the passing of one of South Australia's last remaining World War II Bomber Command veterans Douglas Raymond Leak. Mr Leak was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He was known throughout the veteran community, and I know that his passing has been felt deeply within this community.

Mr Leak was born at Medindie, South Australia, on 17 June 1923 and, sadly, passed away recently on 6 January 2021. Mr Leak enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in Adelaide on 12 September 1942 as an aircrew trainee. He completed basic training at No. 4 Initial Training School at Victor Harbor before completing No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School, at Ballarat, and No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, at Sale. Qualifying as an air gunner, he was promoted to sergeant and posted to the United Kingdom, where he completed heavy bomber conversion training.

In March 1945, Mr Leak was posted to No. 149 (East India) Squadron Royal Air Force (Lancaster II and III heavy bombers), which was based at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. Over 120 Australians served with 149 Squadron RAF during the war, including Pilot Officer Rawdon Middleton, who received a Victoria Cross for his gallant actions with the squadron in 1942.

A total of 37,000 Australian men trained as aircrew under the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II; 10,000 of these served with the RAF Bomber Command. Of these, devastatingly, 3,486 were killed in action, representing about 20 per cent of Australia's combat deaths during the war, making the bombing campaign against Germany and Italy Australia's costliest combat action of World War II. Warrant Officer Leak participated in five operational bombing sorties over Europe with Bomber Command, under Operation Pointblank, the Allied Combined Bomber Offensive, as a wireless operator/air gunner in the mid-upper turret of Lancaster long-range bombers.

With 149 Squadron Mr Leak saw action in the last months of the war, participating in six supply drop missions over Europe, delivering food to the starving people of the Netherlands in support of Operation Manna. This operation has been described as one of the greatest humanitarian feats undertaken in modern war. He also played a key role in the repatriation of allied prisoners of war back to England from Europe as part of Operation Exodus. These operations are the ones Mr Leak was most proud of.

Mr Leak was an active member of the Mitcham branch of the Air Force Association, and on 15 May 2015 he proudly received a certificate acknowledging 60 years of loyal membership. Mr Leak regularly attended the state's annual ANZAC Day March in Adelaide and was a regular attendee at Air Force Association commemorative events.

In March 2016, Douglas was also awarded France's highest order of merit, a Legion of Honour, for his contribution to the liberation of France during World War II. Mr Leak was a long-time member of the Air Force Association in South Australia and a regular attendee at ceremonies at the Torrens Parade Ground. His attendance at these ceremonies, particularly at the upcoming 2021 celebrations for the Air Force centenary, will be sorely missed.

I offer my sincerest condolences to Mr Leak's family on the passing of this special World War II Bomber Command veteran who played such an important role in our shared history. His bravery and honour in the face of such adversity are surely a reminder to all of us of how we owe so much to our veterans for their courage in combat. Vale, Douglas Raymond Leak. Thank you for your service. Lest we forget.

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