RAF KIA - Edward James Morgan LANG (25079) Sherborne School Gonesse SHERWOOD FORESTERS
LONDON GAZETTE 9 SEPT 1941 Flight Lieutenants to become Squadron Leaders ( temporary ) Edward James Morgan Lang (25709) ( Capt Foresters)
Wing Commander Edward James Morgan LANG (25079) of the Royal Air Force
Pilot Circumstances of Death: Lost in aircraft /killed when their aircraft hit a hillside in thick fog NE of Versailles. A year before the war he was seconded from the Army to the R.A.F. and went to Cairo. Two years later, after operations over France, he was an instructor, and a year later was a Wing Commander
Death of Death 1944-12-29
Served in 121 SP
Burial/Commemoration Details : Grave 130. at Gonesse Communal Cemetery, France (Map)
Gonesse is a village 32 kilometres north-east of Versailles and just over 2 kilometres west of La Patte D'Oie, a hamlet at the junction of the Senlis-Paris and Soissons-Paris roads. The Communal Cemetery lies on the north side of the village on the road leading to the neighbouring village of Le Thillay.
The graves of 2 British airmen are near the south-east corner.
25079 Wing Commander Edward James Morgan Lang, Pilot Royal Air Force, died 29th Dec 1944.
118119 Flight Lieutenant William Stanley Jarvis, Navigator Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 29th December 1944
More needed on the aircraft ? can you fill the gap type etc ?
Following is really excellent information compiled by and credit to : Sherborne School Archives, Abbey Road, Sherborne, Dorset, UK, DT9 3AP.
Details: Edward James Morgan Lang (1912-1944), born 18 November 1912, son of Major J.A.M. Lang, OBE, (Sherwood Foresters). Married to Peggy Marion Lang (nee Longe) of 140 The Mount, York.
Attended Grenham House School, Birchington.
Attended Sherborne School (Lyon House) September 1926-December 1930; House Prefect; 2nd XV rugby football team (1929-1930); Class Leader with Badge; 1st Class Gym; Trebles swimming (1929); Sergeant in the OTC.
R.M.C, Sandhurst (athletic team); Sherwood Foresters; seconded Royal Air Force.
WW2, Wing-Commander (Pilot) in the Royal Air Force. Killed on 29 December 1944 when their aircraft hit a hillside in thick fog NE of Versailles, aged 32.
Sherborne School: War Memorial Staircase; Book of Remembrance; Lyon House War Memorial.
Obituary, 'The Shirburnian', July 1945: 'Edward James Morgan Lang, Wing Commander, R.A.F. (g, '26-'30), was prominent in many activities at School, as a cross-country runner, gymnast, swimmer and boxer, though immobilised his last term or so by a badly smashed ankle, the result of a toss, when he went riding unknown to his Housemaster. During his Sandhurst days he did well in sports and rode in various Point to Point meetings before joining the Sherwood Foresters and going with them to Bermuda. A year before the war he was seconded to the R.A.F. and went to Cairo. Two years later, after operations over France, he was an instructor, and a year later was a Wing Commander and winning golden opinions. He was in charge of all R.A.F. Staff arrangements connected with the celebrations in Paris in 1944 and was becoming widely known when his plane crashed. His Irish blood gave him courage and a gay, irrepressible spirit which never hindered or hid the loyalty, kindly and lovable nature that was his.'