Frank Neale

Frank Neale
Squadron Leader Frank Neale in 1942
Born	(1895-09-14)14 September 1895 England
Died	24 December 1979(1979-12-24) (aged 84) Glen Huntly, Australia
Aviation career
Known for	Commercial airline pilot Aerial surveys of central and western Australia
Air force	Royal Flying Corps (1917–18) Royal Air Force (1918–26) Royal Australian Air Force (c.1940–46)
Battles	First World War Second World War
Rank	Wing Commander
Awards	Air Force Cross

Frank Neale, AFC (14 September 1895 – 24 December 1979) was a British-born Australian aviator. Born in England, he served in the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force during the First World War, then moved to Australia in the mid-1920s to continue a notable career as a pioneer aviator. From 1925 until 1939 he flew thousands of hours covering most of Australia, and ventured overseas a number of times. At the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve, rising to wing commander and being awarded the Air Force Cross by his discharge in 1946.

Records in the UK National Archives show Neale's home address was Thornwood, Epping, Essex with next of kin Mrs G. Neale, his mother. His occupation prior to the First World War was Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, and his initial service during the war was in the Army Service Corps Motor Transport as a probationary second lieutenant.

Neale changed to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) as a pilot, and by the end of the war had flown numerous aircraft types including De Havilland DH4, DH6, DH9, DH9A, B.E.2E, RE8, Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8, Bristol Monoplane, Sopwith Pup, Sopwith Camel, and Avro 504. On 1 April 1918, the RFC merged with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) to become the Royal Air Force, subsequently Neale's official rank became flying officer and he was an assistant Instructor at No. 1 Training Depot Station. During his time with the RFC, Neale met an Australian aviator Herbert "Jim" Larkin, with whom he was later associated.