LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer Ronald RICHARDS MID
Service No: 413428
Born: Adamstown NSW, 23 May 1919
Enlisted in the RAAF: 17 August 1941
Unit: Loran Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Mullaghmore
Awarded the Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
Died: Aircraft Accident (Loran Training Unit Wellington aircraft NC627), North Atlantic Ocean, 13 November 1944, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Richards; husband of Margaret Richards, of Kings Cross, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 259, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey UK
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 0021 hours on 13 November 1944 Wellington NC627 took off on a Loran (Long Range Navigation) training exercise. The route was Mullaghmore – 53.30N 06.48W – 54.33N 12.25W and return by reciprocal track. After take-off nothing further was heard from the aircraft and an aircraft day and night search was carried out with no result. It was assumed that aircraft and crew members were lost at sea.
The crew members of NC627 were:
Flying Officer Arthur Keelinge Deakin (J/18442) (RCAF) (Loran Student) No. 407 Squadron RCAF
Flying Officer Maxwell Raymond Delaney (30523) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Peter Colchester Dravers (123308) (RAFVR) (Pilot) No. 407 Squadron RCAF
Flying Officer John Cyril Goodacre (147144) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Flight Lieutenant Charles Patrick O’Connor MID (46516) (RAFVR) (Loran Student) No. 407 Squadron RCAF
Warrant Officer Ronald Richards MID (413428) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Edwards Bruce Ross (J/87418) (RCAF) (Loran Student) No. 407 Squadron RCAF
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, 166/35/384