P/O. Charles Verdun Gore Richardson

Charles Verdun Gore Richardson was born in Wellington on 12 September 1916 (reg. 1916/26470). His parents were Samuel James Richardson and Kathleen Constance Richardson (née Kite) who had married in 1901 (reg. 1901/4821). Charles attended Wellington College and married Mary Elizabeth Reeves in 1938 (reg. 1938/11414). They had two children, Barbara and Carol. During World War II, Charles was with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, when a flying accident was to take his life. When he was "Engaged in a blind flying exercise at Eyreton, the Tiger Moth hit trees and crashed, killing both, instructor qualified pilots, Charles Richardson and Raymond Wilson" (For Your Tomorrow, Errol Martyn, Vol.2 p.96). An inquest was held into the men's death and it was found that Raymond Farmer Wilson and Charles Verdun Gore Richardson, "were killed on May 18 when an aeroplane crashed. It was stated that part of one wing had been damaged before the machine came to the ground. It was suggested that part of the wing had been broken through striking a tree, tearing the fabric and allowing the wind to get in and wreck the structure. The Coroner found that both airmen died from total shattering of the skulls and multiple injuries to bodies and limbs when an aircraft in which they were carrying out instrument flying struck an obstacle and crashed to the ground." (Press, 8 July 1943, p. 6). Charles was buried in Karori Cemetery (bio by Debbie McCauley, 25 January 2024).

Sources

1. Cenotaph: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/...
2. Dominion (19 May 1943, p. 1).
3. Press (8 July 1943, p. 6).