LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant William BADGER
Service No: 416375
Born: Portsmouth, England, 8 October 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 May 1941 (at Adelaide SA)
Unit: No. 18 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 18 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit Oxford aircraft BG168), Warwickshire, 15 January 1943, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Rugby (Winfield) Cemetery, Warwickshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of William Josiah and Dorcas May Badger; husband of Isobel Carr Badger, of Glenelg, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Glenelg SA
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 15 January 1943, Oxford BG168 took off for night flying and circuits and landings. At 2300 hours the aircraft collided with Oxford EP809, and both aircraft crashed at Church Lawford airfield near Rugby.
The crew members of BG168 were:
Sergeant William Badger (416375) (Pilot Instructor) Fatally injured, Died: 15 January 1943
Sergeant Richard John Haag (R/125867) (RCAF) (Pilot under instruction) Killed
The crew members of EP809 were:
Sergeant A W Paynter (RCAF) (Pilot under instruction) Injured
Sergeant W J Wonnacott (RAF) (Pilot Instructor) Seriously injured
In his remarks on the report into the accident the Group Commander stated: “A most regrettable accident which apparently resulted from the failure of the pilot of BG168 to take precautions in the matter of look out while making an unduly close circuit and approach to the day/night flare path along which it was apparently his intention to effect a landing. In consequence his aircraft overtook and collided with EP809, which may have been making an unduly long and straight final approach, but which nevertheless had the right of way, and which it was his duty to avoid.”
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/5/16