Operation: Training

Date: 18th May 1943 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School

Type: Tiger Moth DH-82A

Serial: NZ652

Code: -

Base: RNZAF Harewood, New Zealand

Location: Eyreton

Pilot: P/O. Charles Verdun Gore Richardson NZ/424548 RNZAF Age 27. Killed

Pilot: P/O. Raymond Farmer Wilson NZ/437059 RNZAF Age 32. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Whilst taking part in a blind flying exercise the two instructors struck trees.

Partially broken up they crashed at 10:15 hrs. Both of the crew were killed.

Burial and personal details:

P/O. Charles Verdun Gore Richardson. llington (Karori) Cemetery. Grave4. G/3. (S). Born on the 12th September 1916 in Wellington. Educated at Wellington College. A clerk for Wm Cable and Company in Kaiwarra. Enlisted at Rotorua on the 02nd May 1942 as a pilot under training. With No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School 11th June 1942. With No. 1 Flying Training School on 05th September 1942. Pilot badge awarded on the 30th November 1942. Commissioned 06th February 1943. With Central Flying School 20th February 1943. To No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School as a flight instructor 26th April 1943. A total of 286 solo flying hours with 191 on the Tiger Moth. Son of Samuel and Kathleen Richardson (née Kite) and husband of Mary Elizabeth (née Reeves, later Watkins) and father of two daughters of Wellington, New Zealand.

P/O. Raymond Farmer Wilson. Lower Hutt (Taita) Cemetery. Grave 51. 111. Pres. Born on the 27th June 1910 in Sydney, Australia. Educated at Wellington College. A clerk for Gear Mear Company in Wellington. Served in territorial army for two years. Enlisted with Tactical Air Force as an air gunner under training in September 1937. Moblised with RNZAF as an air gunner on the 04th September 1939, Re-mustered as a pilot under training on the 04th May 1942. With No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School 13th June 1942. With No. 1 Flying Training School on 05th September 1942. Pilot badge awarded on the 30th November 1942. Pilot badge awarded on the 30th November 1942. Commissioned 15th April 1943. With Central Flying School 20th February 1943. To No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School as a flight instructor May 1943. Son of Thomas (died 03rd October 1922, age 41) and Susan Yeoman Wilson (née Anderson), stepson of George William Tait of Petone and husband of Marie Thelma Wilson (née Mitchell, later Willis) and father of one son, of Lower Hutt

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, other sources as quoted below:

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