World War II
Following service with No. 30 Squadron, in October 1942 Squadron Leader Read was given command of No. 31 Squadron, which operated Bristol Beaufighters out of Coomalie in the Northern Territory. Coming under the control of North Western Area Command, the unit went into action over Portuguese Timor the following month. By April 1943, Read had been promoted wing commander. On 2 May, he led a low-level sortie against Penfui airfield, a key base for Japanese raids on Darwin, during which he destroyed two enemy Zeke fighters on the ground with cannon. Read was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for the "courage and skill" he displayed during assaults on Japanese installations, pressed home in the face of severe anti-aircraft fire. The award was promulgated in the London Gazette on 2 July 1943.
Returning to Australia, Read took charge of No. 1 Service Flying Training School from October 1943 until the unit's disbandment in September 1944. He went back to the South West Pacific later that year as Officer Commanding No. 77 Wing. Read led Beaufighters of No. 31 Squadron into action during the Operation Oboe Six landings at Labuan on 10 June 1945, and was the first RAAF pilot to land at the newly opened Tarakan airfield on 28 June. He was mentioned in despatches for the operational and administrative efficiency achieved by No. 77 Wing, and by the end of the war was an acting group captain on the headquarters staff of the Australian First Tactical Air Force at Morotai. He took over command of the formation following the end of hostilities, leading it into 1946 as its units were steadily disbanded.
Read more about this topic: Charles Read (RAAF Officer)
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