LANDER Reginald Ernest MID
RAAF Born Roma QLD 8 March 1914 Died Merriwa WA 31 December 2003
Service No: 267723. Joined QANTAS Empire Airways in 1937 as the first Professional Radio Officer to be employed. Served with QANTAS throughout WWII. Radio Officer on the first QANTAS Empire Air Flying Boat (Cooee) that departed Rose Bay, Sydney, on 5 July 1938 to initiate the Sydney-London air service. During WWII, this service was replaced by the Perth-Koggala (Sri Lanka) air service operated by QANTAS using Catalina Flying Boats supplied by the RAF on which he also served. RAAF Reserve 1944-58. War Service Far East, Pacific, Middle East, UK and on the Catalina Service across the Indian Ocean to Ceylon 1943-45. Mentioned in Despatches. Joined the Daily News/West Australian Advertising Department in 1952. Attended Highgate Inaugural Meeting: 14 May 1947. Guest Speaker, Highgate Luncheon, August 1998.
