Squadron/s | 453 SQN |
Rank On Discharge/Death | Flying Officer (FLGOFF) |
Nickname | Froggy |
Date of Birth | 02 Apr 1922 |
Date of Enlistment | 19 Jul 1941 |
Date of Death | 26 Jan 2004 |
Contributing Author/s | Fred Cowpe, Bruce Read and Paul Carter Updated by Vince Conant The Spitfire Association February 2015 |
Froggy was born on the 2nd of April 1922 in Geelong Victoria. He enlisted on the 19th of July 1941 and did his ITS training at Somers Vic., where he met his lifelong friend, fellow member Fred Cowpe. The two went to Rhodesia to complete their pilot training, stuck together again for their O.T.U. Training at Rednal in the U.K., before finding themselves in the same place Perranporth with 453 Squadron, Christmas 1943.
'Froggy' Lyall had a busy time with 453 Squadron with their Mk 1X Spitfires, flying countless missions with Number 125 Wing from the U.K. and their cross channel bases. 453 recorded 22 destroyed EE against one loss in a two and a half month period in France alone. On the 12th of July 1944, 'Froggy' was shot down and became a POW, but made his escape, rejoining his squadron 5 weeks later and in the following month shot down a Me 109.
Soon after the Squadron returned to the U.K., and was re-equipped with Mk XV1's and began attacking V2 launching sites in Holland 'Froggy' was blown out of bed by one of these missiles whilst on leave in London. With the end of the war in sight, 'Froggy' was mentioned in Dispatches and granted his commission.
Discharged in 1946, he did dentistry and practised his profession in Melbourne until he retired.
Dr. Lyall, of East Brighton Vic., died on 26/01/04.