LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Edgar George READING
Service No: 421463
Born: Sydney NSW, 12 June 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 February 1942
Unit: No. 14 Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 14 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft DV839), Northamptonshire, 24 October 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Ilford Cemetery, Essex
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Edgar S. Reading and Evelyn R. Reading, of Eastlakes, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1845 hours on the night of 24 October 1943 Wellington DV839 took off from RAF Station Market Harborough, Leicestershire, Satellite airfield detailed to carry out a night cross-country training exercise. The aircraft came down through the cloud in order to establish position. While doing so, the rate of descent was increased and, thought this was partially arrested, the Wellington hit the ground at about 2200 hours close to Wittering airfield in Northamptonshire. Three of the crew members were killed in the crash and two were injured, one fatally
The crew members of DV839 were:
Sergeant John Geoffrey Stewart Browne (1337351) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant W Buckley (1300028) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner) Injured
Flying Officer Ralph Hooper (151897) (RAFVR) (Bomb Aimer) Fatally injured, Died: 25 October 1943
Flight Sergeant Lyndsay Thomas Newton (419205) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Edgar George Reading (421463) (Pilot)
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, 166/35/177