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.
[1][2] Read was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Hampshire Carabiniers, a yeomanry (part-time volunteer cavalry) regiment, on 23 September 1906.
On 8 February 1915, he was appointed a flight commander in the Royal Flying Corps with the temporary rank of captain.
[13] In April 1917, disillusioned with heavy losses and with his superiors, he requested and received a transfer back to his regiment.
[16] 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.
[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.