Wing Commander ADV Leach
Albert de Villiers Leach
- Rank
- Flight Lt
- Later rank
- Wing Commander
- Honours
- DFC, MiD
- Squadron
- No 224 Squadron
- School
- St Andrew's College
- Fate
- Survived the war. Died 2001
- In the book
- Pages 84
From the book
More than a “Few” South Africans
Albert de Villiers Leach was born in Queenstown and attended St Andrews College in Grahamstown at the same time as Thomas Rivett Carnac. According to “The London Gazette”, Flying Officer Albert de Villiers Leach, a member of the Reserve of Air Force Officers, was promoted to Flight Lt in September 1940.Anecdotal evidence suggests his RAF involvement predated the 1936 formation of the RAFVR and he was one of five South Africans including early “POW” Derek Heaton- Nicholls, who flew No 224 Hudson’s. Flight Lt Leach was awarded the “Distinguished Flying Cross” in April 1941, a month after his South African squadron colleague Nicholas Selley lost his life and an acting Squadron Leader Leach when he was “Mentioned in Dispatches” in September.