Crossword Genius

Battle aircraftman taking ladies perhaps into Welsh lake (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

balaclava

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'battle' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'aircraftman taking ladies perhaps into welsh lake' is the wordplay.
'aircraftman' becomes 'ac' (military abbreviation).
'taking ladies perhaps' becomes 'lav' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'into' is an insertion indicator.
'welsh lake' becomes 'Bala' (Lake Bala is a Welsh lake).
'ac'+'lav'='aclav'
'aclav' inserted within 'bala' is 'BALACLAVA'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for balaclava that I've seen before include "Knitted hat (for bank robbers?)" , "Woollen hat named after a battle" , "helmet no protection against shrapnel" , "Woollen helmet" , "Warm hat" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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