Wing Commander William Ronald Read, MC, DFC, AFC** (17 May 1885 ^[1] − 1972 ^[2]) was a highly decorated Royal Air Force (RAF) officer of the First World War and the inter-war period. A pre-war member of the Royal Flying Corps (which became the RAF in 1918), he is one of only twelve officers to have so far received a second Bar to the Air Force Cross, signifying three awards of the medal.

Early life and career

Read came from a wealthy family ^[2] and was the eldest son of W. T. Read of Hampstead. ^[3] Both his parents died when he was twelve and he and his siblings were raised by guardians. ^[2] He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge. ^{[1] [2]}

Read was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Hampshire Carabiniers, a yeomanry (part-time volunteer cavalry) regiment, on 23 September 1906. ^[4] On 6 March 1907, after leaving Cambridge, he transferred to the 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards, a regular regiment. ^[5] After obtaining his pilot's licence in April 1913, ^{[1] [6]} Read was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps as a pilot on 28 April 1914 ^[7] and joined No. 3 Squadron RFC. ^[6] He was promoted lieutenant on 14 June 1914. ^[8]

First World War

Read accompanied his squadron to France in August 1914. ^[6] He was wounded in December 1914. On 8 February 1915, he was appointed a flight commander in the Royal Flying Corps with the temporary rank of captain. ^{[9] [10] [11]} In December 1915 he was sent home to organise No. 45 Squadron RFC, returning to France in command in April 1916. ^[2] He was awarded the Military Cross on 1 January 1916, ^[12] and promoted to the substantive rank of captain on 19 August 1917. ^[13] In April 1917, disillusioned with heavy losses and with his superiors, he requested and received a transfer back to his regiment. ^[2] He did not much enjoy it, however, and returned to the RFC as the first commanding officer of No. 104 Squadron RFC, a bomber unit, in September 1917 with the acting rank of major. ^[14]

Read was awarded the Air Force Cross (AFC) on 1 January 1919, ^[15] and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 3 June 1919 for services in France. ^[16]

Post-war

After the war Read remained in the Royal Air Force (RAF) with the rank of flight lieutenant, although technically still on attachment from his regiment. ^[17] He served in Palestine with No. 216 Squadron from 1919 to 1921, ^[6] and received a Bar to his AFC on 12 July 1920. ^[18] By October 1921, he had been promoted to squadron leader in the RAF, although still holding the rank of captain in the army, ^[19] and was in command of No. 216 Squadron. ^[1]

On 17 November 1921, Read finally transferred from the army to a permanent commission in the RAF. ^[20] He was awarded a second bar to his AFC in the 1922 New Year Honours. ^[21] He was promoted wing commander on 1 January 1924. ^{[22] [23]} Having previously been commander of an apprentices' wing at RAF Halton, ^[1] in January 1928 he became station commander of RAF Upavon, ^{[24] [25]} and he was appointed first commander of RAF Boscombe Down in September 1930. ^{[6] [25] [26]} In March 1931, he was appointed Inspector of Recruiting for the RAF. ^[6] He retired on 17 May 1932, his 47th birthday. ^{[1] [27]}

Personal life

In December 1915, Read became engaged to Marjory Masters, daughter of an army chaplain. ^[3] However, he seems to have never actually married. ^[2] He was an amateur steeplechase rider, riding in many races, ^[28] and tennis player. ^[29]

Read's wartime diaries and papers are held by the Imperial War Museum.

Footnotes